Mexico is known for its warm climate and spicy food, so it makes sense that many of its traditional drinks are sweet and refreshing. One of the most popular of these cool and sweet beverages is horchata. Like many other offerings of Mexican cuisine, this drink uses only a few simple ingredients to make something with a delicious and unmistakable flavor. Horchata is perfect for pairing with your favorite meals from Mexican restaurants in Derry, or sipped on its own so you can fully enjoy the sweet cinnamon flavor.
Traditional Mexican food from Los Reyes needs a traditional drink to go with it! Here’s a look at the basic steps to making sweet and refreshing horchata.
Soak Rice and Cinnamon
The main ingredient in horchata is white rice. The first step in making horchata is to rinse the rice thoroughly to remove excess starch. After rinsing, the rice is then soaked for several hours, often overnight. Soaking the rice softens it, allowing it to blend smoothly into a rich and creamy base for the horchata. Cinnamon sticks are usually added to the rice while it soaks to infuse it with warm, spicy flavor, essential to the taste of horchata.
Blend and Sweeten
When it’s done soaking, the rice and cinnamon mixture is blended with fresh water until it has a uniform consistency. After blending the mixture, the next step is to strain it to remove any solids from the rice or large chunks of cinnamon stick. The result is a smooth, milky liquid.
At this stage, the horchata is smooth and cinnamon-y, but it’s not quite done. It needs to be a little sweeter. Granulated sugar—added to taste—and some vanilla extract complete the traditional horchata recipe, making it sweet and aromatic. Some modern recipes also add evaporated or condensed milk to make the horchata creamier, but traditional versions are typically dairy-free.
Chill and Serve
All that’s left is to chill and serve! Horchata is best cold, so it’s chilled and then served over ice, often with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top. The final result is a refreshing, slightly creamy drink with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice that pairs beautifully with your favorite Mexican dishes.
Stay Cool and Refreshed at Your Favorite Derry Restaurants
If you’ve visited us at Los Reyes Street Tacos before, you know we’re all about traditional recipes and delicious ingredients. And we don’t limit that to our food! We put the same dedication and care into crafting our traditional beverages, too.
