Authentic Mexican Horchata Recipe (Homemade Rice Drink) (2024)

Agua de Horchata is a refreshing Mexican rice and cinnamon drink, made with just a few simple ingredients! Keep a pitcher of this authentic Mexican Horchata drink in your fridge for a sweet, cold drink to cool you down on hot days!

Authentic Mexican Horchata - Rice Agua fresca

With it’s sweet, creamy flavor and subtle hints of vanilla and cinnamon, Agua de Horchata is one of the most beloved and traditional Mexican aguas frescas.

I’ve shared many agua fresca recipes before, most recently my Guava Agua Fresca recipe, which is one of my favorites. “Agua fresca” literally means “fresh water” in Spanish, and it generally just refers to a fruit water, often mixed with sugar for a sweet flavor.

Agua de Horchata is a little different, since it’s made using rice and cinnamon, as opposed to a specific fruit. Nevertheless, it’s just as refreshing!

Horchata is a popular drink to have at places that offer traditional Mexican food, both in Mexico and the United States. It is very common to enjoy a typical Mexican antojito (Mexican street food like tostadas and sopes) with a cold glass of this sweet, milky drink.

The light flavor of horchata is a welcome addition to almost any Mexican dinner, but it’s especially nice to have around when indulging in spicy foods! The creamy horchata works as a palate cleanser, and can cool off the burn of a spicy dish.

Of course, you can also enjoy this sweet rice drink by itself as a refreshing treat on a hot day, no food required!

Is Horchata Mexican or Spanish?

Horchata has its origins in Spain, in the Valencia region. However, that horchata is not the same as the Mexican horchata I’m sharing today. The Spanish version is made using a base of tiger nut, while Mexican horchata uses a rice base. Both versions of horchata are sweet, and usually flavored with cinnamon. You can also find almond and coconut horchatas in Mexico.

What is Horchata made of?

Mexican Agua de Horchata is typically made out of rice and cinnamon, both of which are soaked overnight and then mixed in a blender. Sugar and vanilla extract are also added for additional flavor, and Milk is another optional addition. Each Mexican restaurant or family tends to have a slightly different recipe, but the main ingredients are always rice and cinnamon.

In the south of the country, you can also find the almond and coconut versions of Horchata, and in some regions, like in Central Mexico, there is one Horchata made with dried Cantaloupe seeds. Some people add milk in the preparation of this drink, but others prefer not to add it. There are also many recipes that use condensed or evaporated milk. I personally like to add 1 cup of regular whole milk to my Horchata.

What does Horchata taste like?

Horchata can best be described as rice pudding in a drink. The flavor is light, creamy, and sweet, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. The exact flavor and sweetness will vary based on how much sugar is added to the recipe, but all Mexican horchata is made with rice, cinnamon and vanilla.

Homemade Horchata vs Horchata Mixes

Nowadays, there are many horchata mixes that can be found at grocery stores in Mexico. Some people buy these products instead of making a homemade horchata. While some of these mixes render a good tasting horchata, nothing beats the flavors of this milky drink made at home.

Homemade horchata is super easy to make, it just requires a little bit of thinking ahead, since the rice needs to soak overnight. That may be why the mixes have become popular, as you can quickly prepare them at a moment’s notice. Making horchata from scratch is well worth the extra effort, though! The packaged flavors do not begin to compare to the fresh ingredients.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying or delicious as a glass of ice cold horchata on a hot day! By the way, Horchata is almost always served cold with ice cubes.

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Ingredients used in this Horchata Recipe:

Long Grain White Rice - to make this rice drink you can also use other types of rice. Like short grain rice.

Mexican Cinnamon - Mexican Cinnamon has a intense flavor.

Water - To soak the rice and soften the rice and also to add to the final drink.

Sugar - I like to use organic granulated sugar, adjust the amount to your liking if you prefer the drink sweeter.

Vanilla Extract - I hope you can find the Mexican Vanilla extract at your local grocery store or Latin Store. To enjoy the full flavors of a Mexican Horchata.

Milk - You can use 2% or whole milk. Or even use Evaporated milk for a richer flavor.

How to Make Mexican Agua de Horchata

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Instructions:

1. Place the rice and cinnamon stick in a large glass bowl and add the 4 cups of hot water. Cover the bowl with a dish or plastic wrap, then let it soak overnight, or at least 8 hours.

2. The next day, pour the rice, cinnamon, and the water into your blender and process until it becomes a smooth, watery paste.

3. Using a strainer or sieve, strain the mixture into a wide mouth pitcher, stirring to help the liquid pass through.

4. Add the milk (if using), vanilla extract, and the rest of the water. Stir in the sugar, adjusting the amount to fit your taste. Let the drink chill in the refrigerator. Stir the Horchata before serving, since the rice mix tends to settle at the bottom. Serve in glasses with ice cubes.

Notes:

• If you have a Vitamix or other high-performance blender, you won’t need to rest the rice to soften it, as the blender will be powerful enough to grind the hard rice grains. Additionally, you probably won’t need to use a sieve or strainer to strain the rice water, as the rice mixture will be very finely processed.
• Always taste the drink before adding the sugar. You might need more or less sugar than the amount indicated in the ingredients.
• If you feel that the consistency of the Horchata is too thick or dense for your taste, simply add more water.

Other Mexican Aguas Frescas:

Mango Agua Fresca

Papaya Agua Fresca

Prickly Pear (Tuna) Agua Fresca

Banana Agua Fresca

📖 Recipe