Horchata water is a delicious and refreshing drink of Mexican origin. Without a doubt, a suitable drink to cool off during the summer. Below, we show you a simple recipe to make this drink.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 4 cups of filtered water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Sugar to taste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Ice
Horchata recipe
- We place the rice in a container and cover it with water. Afterwards we let it rest for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- After soaking the rice, we drain it and place it in a blender or food processor. We add 2 cups of filtered water and mix it until we obtain a smooth and thick paste.
- Pour the rice mixture into a larger container and add another 2 cups of filtered water. We add a cinnamon stick and stir everything well. We cover the container and let it rest for at least 1 hour so that the flavors mix properly.
- After letting it rest, we remove the cinnamon stick and add the sugar to taste and the vanilla extract (optional). We mix everything again until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- We place a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over another container and pour the mixture to filter it. Gently press the rice to extract all the liquid, this will remove any sediment or lumps of rice.
- Once the mixture is filtered, the horchata water is transferred to a jug and left in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to cool completely.
- Before serving, you can add ice to the glasses and pour the horchata water to make it colder. You can also sprinkle a little ground cinnamon on top if you wish.
What benefits does horchata water have?
Horchata water is not only a refreshing and delicious drink, but it has other benefits, such as those mentioned below:- Hydration: This drink is an excellent option to stay hydrated, more specifically on hot days.
- Nutrition: Rice is mainly used to prepare this drink, which is a good source of carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins such as calcium and vitamin D, in addition to containing proteins and healthy fats in moderate quantities.
- Digestion: Horchata water can help relieve mild digestive problems. Cinnamon, one of its key ingredients, has traditionally been used to promote digestion, as well as relieve heartburn.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Its two main ingredients, rice and cinnamon, have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, drinking horchata water can help reduce inflammation in the body, as well as relieve the symptoms of certain conditions such as arthritis.
- Lactose-free and gluten-free: This drink is an alternative for all those people who are intolerant to lactose or gluten, thanks to the fact that it does not contain milk or derivatives.
