Traditional Mexican Horchata | (2024)

Horchatade Arroz is a popular & refreshing Mexican drink made with ground rice, milk and cinnamon. Learn how to make this delicious drink with these step by step instructions!

Best Horchata Recipe

There is a reason why this drink is the most popular one on Muy Delish. It’s super delicious!

It’s sweet, creamy, and refreshing! Due to the milk in the recipe, it can have a cooling effect that comes in handy when eating spicy food.

My recipe is for traditional Mexican horchata but I’ve seen versions around the web to fit today’s different diet needs: Some use almond or coconut milk to make it lactose-free or they use no calorie-sweeteners for diabetic needs.

While they may taste good, nothing beats the taste of the traditional version! I hope you treat yourself to the real deal at least once in a while.

One of the reasons Horchata is very popular in Mexico, is that it’s the perfect pairing for spicy & flavorful meals. Every time I make Pozole, Entomatadas, or Bistec Ranchero, you’ll see Horchata on my table….It’s also my favorite drink and it’ll be yours soon too 🙂

🩷 xoxo, Ana

Ingredients

• Use 1 cup of any uncooked long grain white rice and 2 cinnamon sticks.
• The milk base comes from 1 can each of evaporated milk and condensed milk. This is what gives the horchata the wonderful flavor and a creamy consistency.
• If the condensed milk does not make it sweet enough for you, you can add more sugar to taste.
• Ground cinnamon to garnish (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional) – Just don’t use too much vanilla as we don’t want to overpower the cinnamon & rice flavor.

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How to make horchata

Making horchata is very simple and the hardest part is waiting for it to soak. After that, making it is a breeze!

1. Place the rice in a colander and rinse under cold water.
2. Place the rice, cinnamon stick and 4 cups of water into a bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight or a minimum of 4 hours (the longer the better!).

3. Add 1/2 of the rice mixture & 1/2 of the soaking water and some of the cinnamon stick in a blender.
4. Puree until it’s very smooth and forms a watery paste like texture. About 4 minutes long.

5. Using a very fine mesh strainer (or some cheese cloth) pour the mixture over a pitcher. Strain out as much liquid as possible, pushing on the solids with a spatula or spoon.
6. Repeat this process for the rest of the rice & cinnamon mixture.

• Stir in the canned milks, vanilla, and the additional 4 cups of water. Stir well until everything is incorporated.

Tips and Notes

• I prefer long-grain white rice for a smoother texture.
• Make sure you give it enough time to soak the rice well. This will ensure that will blend the best and will retain all of the rice flavor.
• Texture: If you prefer a smoother horchata, strain it a second time or use a nut milk bag.
• Variations: Some people like to add a little almond extract or use almond milk for a different flavor profile.

How to Store

• Fridge:Place in a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2-3 days. But I guarantee that you’ll want to drink it all in a day!
• Shake Before Serving: Horchata tends to separate, so shake or stir it well before serving.
• Freezing: If you need to store it longer, you can freeze in an airtight container, leaving some space at the top for expansion. Thaw it in the refrigerator and shake well before serving.
• Avoid Room Temperature: Do not leave it at room temperature for extended periods to prevent spoilage.

You guys, if you go to a Mexican restaurant I guarantee you will see Horchata on the menu. You may have seen it as “Agua de Horchata”. The wonderful thing is it’s super easy to make and you can make it at home!

What kind of rice can I use?

Any white rice will work: long grain, jasmine, basmati, short grain. Just make sure it’s raw white rice!

Do you need to wash the rice prior to soaking?

Yes! Since we’ll be using the same soaking water to make the horchata, I recommend you wash it to have a clean drink.

Do you leave it in the fridge overnight or just out on the counter when soaking?

Place the bowl in the fridge since we’ll be using that same water for our final Horchata drink. This water already contains a lot of the rice & cinnamon flavor and we don’t want to waste it!

How can I make it dairy free?

Use almond milk or coconut milk. But you’ll need to sweeten it with sugar or your favorite sweetener. This may change the authenticity and it may not provide the same results as this recipe.