Horchata is a typical Spanish drink and is made with tiger nuts (chufas in Spanish). There are other delicious horchata recipes in Latin America, but they're made with other nuts or even with rice and some of them are not vegan.
Traditional horchata tastes amazing, but is made with a lot of refined white sugar, so is not the healthiest beverage you can drink. I always use dates to make plant milks, but there are so many natural sweeteners available.
The ingredients are so inexpensive and really easy to get, except maybe the tiger nuts, but feel free to use other nuts (I love almonds). Horchata only lasts about 2 days in the fridge, but it tastes so good, so you'll probably want to drink it all at once!
Soak the tiger nuts in water for 12 to 24 hours. The longer you soak them, the better, it will be easier to blend and digest.
Drain the tiger nuts and blend them with 2 cups of water (500 ml). Place the mixture in a glass jar, add a cinnamon stick and the peel of a lemon. Let the mixture stand in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Strain the horchata using a nut milk, a cheesecloth or a napkin and blend it with the dates or your favorite natural sweetener. I always used dates (4 Medjool or 8 Deglet Nour). Let stand in the fridge until it's cold.
I like to add some ground cinnamon on top and sometimes I also add some ice (summers are really hot here in the south of Spain!).
Make your own plant milks if you can, they taste much better, are cheaper and also healthier. Store bough plant milks (including horchata) are full of refined sugars, preservatives and additives. If you make this Spanish horchata don't forget to leave a comment or tag a picture #simpleveganblog on Instagram (or any other social network).
Spanish Horchata
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 9 oz tiger nuts or chufas, yu can use other nuts, I love almonds
- 1 cinnamon stick
- The peel of a lemon
- 4 Medjool dates or 8 Deglet Nour dates
Instructions
- Soak the tiger nuts in water for 12 to 24 hours.
- Drain and rinse the tiger nuts.
- Blend them with 2 cups of water (500 ml). Place the mixture in a glass jar, add a cinnamon stick, and the peel of a lemon. Let the mixture stand in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Strain the horchata using a nut milk, a cheesecloth, or a napkin and blend it with the dates and the remaining water (2 cups or 500 ml).
- Let stand in the fridge until it’s cold.
- You can serve the horchata with some ground cinnamon on top. Feel free to add ice too.
Notes
- Recipe from Danza de Fogones.
lans says
Hi, are the dates blended into the milk after it has been strained? I just want to check they won't appear lumpy in the drink after spending so long preparing a smooth drink. Thank you
Iosune Robles says
Hi! You're right, the dates are blended into the milk after it has been strained 🙂 Don't worry about that!
Julie says
Going through your recipe , it looks like literally we need not to cook this milk ?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Julie! It is not necessary to cook the milk, you only need to soak the tiger nuts in water for 12 to 24 hours 🙂
Holger Baeuerle says
Your ingredients call for 4 cups of water (1L) but then under Instructions it says to blend the nuts with 2 cups (500 ML) of water.. what happened to the other 500 ML or 2 cups of water?
Iosune Robles says
It was a mistake, I've already fixed it. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Deisy Fuentes Azpeitia says
This drink brings me many memories of my contry, Cuba. One of my uncles used to drink it a lot. For many years he couldn't drink it, as soon as he got to Madrid, the first thing he asket was for a Horchata, but he didn't have to much luck and the place didn't have it.
Iosune says
Hi Deisy! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂 You can find horchata at most supermarkets here in Spain and also at ice cream shops.
Aly Bradley says
Where did you get your tiger nuts
Iosune says
Hi Aly! I live in Spain, so you can find them here easily 🙂
discobelle says
Is the lemon for flavor?
Iosune says
Hi Discobelle! Yes, it is 🙂
Paulina says
What measurements would you need to make a gallon for a party??
Iosune says
Hi Paulina! I'm so sorry, but I don't know... Have a nice day!
Ana @ Ana's Rocket Ship says
I've no idea what tiger nuts are- but that isn't going to stop me making this- it looks so good!
Iosune says
Thanks a lot Ana! I hope you like it! 😀