Best Spanish Horchata Recipe by a Local

We love summer because the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and everyone is in a better mood. 

However, there are times when hot days make us melt, and for this reason, it is necessary to have an antidote ready to avoid it.

To help fight these days of suffocating heat is the delicious Spanish horchata. 

You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

This refreshing drink should not be confused with the Mexican horchata or from other Latin American countries, which is made with rice.

In this article, we will tell you more about what is in horchata, how to make horchata at home, as well as some information on how you can modify the recipe or how you can save if you have something left over.

Background of the Dish

Spanish horchata is a cold drink that is made with tiger nut, water, and sugar and is the perfect drink to have by the pool on a sunny day.

If you are wondering about the horchata origin, the answer will probably surprise you. 

Despite being a Spanish recipe, its origins can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was the drink chosen to serve those who were invited to the funerals of the pharaohs.

Then over time, it was developed in Spain before the 1800s as a sweet drink, so it used to be served with desserts. 

However, in recent years it has become fashionable to drink it with salty dishes such as paella or patatas a lo pobre to make a combination of sweet and savory food.

Pin for Later!

Things You’ll Need for Spanish Horchata Recipe

To make this tasty homemade horchata you will only need 3 key ingredients: water, horchata, and sugar. 

To give it a consistency similar to Sangria you will also need some ice cubes, but it is still very simple to make.

Ingredients

• 3 cups (750 ml) of water
• 200 gr tiger nut
• ¾ cup (150g) sugar
• Lemon peel (optional)
• 10 ice cubes

How to Make Spanish Horchata – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this easy horchata recipe, wash the tiger nuts with cold water several times to remove any dirt that might be left and soak them in cold water for 2 hours to hydrate well.
2. After that, drain them and place them in the blender or food processor with the sugar and 750 ml of cold water.
3. Up next blend until you get a smoothie-like consistency.
4. Then, add the ice cubes and crush them again until you get a kind of granita.
5. For the final step, divide the frozen horchata into glasses and then decorate with thin strips of lemon peel. Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing horchata.

Substitution of Ingredients

As you can see on the horchata ingredients, there are only a few and they are very common; water, sugar, and tiger nuts. 

Horchata is mostly tiger nut milk, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t make it with other nuts.

For example, you can make Spanish horchata with almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts, among others. 

The sugar and water are mandatory ingredients because if you skip them then you won’t get the same finish result.

There are some twists that you can give to this Spanish drink. You can add some cinnamon, or vanilla extract, or add any flavoring of your choice. 

If you want to make it for grown-ups only then you can add one shot of your favorite liquor or vodka or try our Spanish drinks like Tinto de Verano or Sangria.

Another similar drink like the Spanish horchata is the refreshing leche merengada drink that is incredibly delicious as well and worth a try this summer.

And when you want to prepare something more Christmasy, you can make the best coquito recipe with condensed milk and white rum.

Tips on Serving Spanish Horchata

The recipe from this article is a summer horchata recipe and that is why it calls for ice cubes. 

However, if you follow this exact recipe but skip the ice cubes step, then you will still have an authentic horchata recipe that you can enjoy all year round.

Besides that, you can enjoy this Spanish horchata at any time of the day, as a drink to relax and chill on the beach.

If you don’t want to have it on an empty stomach then you can serve it with some delicious Spanish chicken croquettes.

How to Store Spanish Horchata

If you make this horchata recipe, then you will be able to store it,  but there are some precautions that you must follow. 

This horchata drink doesn’t have any preservatives, so it won’t last that much time.

You can either store it in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze it for one week. It should always be taken to the refrigerator if you are not taking it, otherwise, it will go bad.

Recipe Card: Spanish Horchata

---

---