What does horchata taste like?
Horchata tastes like cold, liquid rice pudding: creamy, sweet and milky, with lots of cinnamon and a little vanilla.
Horchata
cinnamon rice milk, sweet
Mexican horchata is made by soaking rice (sometimes with almonds) with cinnamon, blending it with water, straining it, and sweetening it. Some versions add milk or condensed milk for extra creaminess, and many add vanilla. It tastes like rice pudding or the milk left in a bowl of cinnamon cereal, sweet and soothing, served very cold over ice. It's lighter than a milkshake but creamier than juice. In Spain, horchata is made from tiger nuts, small tubers, and tastes nuttier and earthier.
Where you’ll see it
At taquerias and Mexican restaurants, often from a big jar on the counter alongside other aguas frescas. It also turns up in lattes, cold brew and cocktails.
Order it if you want something sweet and creamy to cool down spicy food.
Quick questions
- Does horchata have dairy?
- It depends. Traditional Mexican horchata is rice, water, cinnamon and sugar, but many places add milk or condensed milk. Ask if it matters.
- What is horchata made of?
- Mexican horchata is rice, cinnamon, sugar and water, sometimes with almonds, milk or vanilla. Spanish horchata uses tiger nuts instead of rice.