Horchata

I LOOOOVE this stuff. It's funny because I didn't start drinking it--- and had never heard of it until I met my husband...about ten years ago but now I'm hooked! It's a rice milk drink with cinnamon and sugar that is so refreshing served with ice! The Mexican border is only 45 minutes away from my hometown and they have a very popular juice bar but I would only buy the fresh squeezed lemonade or watermelon...then I met my hubby and wow! I can't get enough of the stuff. I bought a box of Rice Dream in Horchata flavor and it was sooo authentic I almost drank the whole thing myself. I really ought to try and just make it on my own one day!

Naxet76, you are sooo right: Rice Dream Horchata is unbelievably good, much better than what you'd get from any mix -- and we've tried several. They always come out too powdery. It is very addictive! Chris

We get horchata in a bottle in Santa Fe. I put some in our freezer so next time I'm out I'll give it a try. They also sell horchata ice cream, like a popsicle. Yum. Rice right in the ice cream!

I love it.
If it's available in a Mexican restaurant, that's what I order, and sometimes a refill! It's delicious and addicting.
I love rice pudding, too, so that might be a factor.

NYNM - Horchata ice cream? Horchata popsicles? WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that I think of it - I'll just freeze the Rice Dream brand of Horchata.
Yay! A new summertime treat!

FYI: I have seen Horchata pops in a deli in Hoboken, NJ that sells food for Latino community. I'll bet you can find it other places. Freezing your own is a good idea - does your Rice Dreams have rice grains it it, because that's what made the pops soooooo good.

Rice Dream does not have rice grains.

I'll look in to El Rey, a local Hispanic grocery, and see if they have "the real thing".

Horchata de Arroz

1 c rice, washed
2 quarts water
1 piece cinnamon stick
Sugar, to taste

Soak rice in water for3 hours so that rice will swell. Then add the cinnamon stick and simmer for 1/2 hour. Remove cinnamon.
Cool, strain the rice mixture through a cloth napkin, squeezing to extract al the mlky liquid. Add sugar to taste. Chill and serve over ice cubes.

Variation: In adition to, or instead of, the cinnamon, flavor the horchata with other extracts or spices, or blend in a blender with fresh or frozen strawberries or other fruit.

Makes about 8 cups

Source: Adventures in Mexican Cooking

****This is a recipe I cut out from the San Antonio Exress News a couple of years ago and I've yet to make it. I just buy it at a local taqueria place near my house or the Rice Dream brand.

I LOVE horchata.... our local AM/PM has it on the soda fountain... I really like it in the morning because it tastes so much like rice pudding with cinnamon~!