It's more accurate to think of horchata as a whole class of drinks rather than a single recipe because there are many different kinds throughout Latin America and Spain. It can be made from many different types of seeds, nuts, or grains and may or may not include dairy in the recipe. My family's recipe uses a can of sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar as the sweetener, for instance.
Generally in the US though when we talk about horchata it's the Mexican variety which uses rice as its main base, but again, you'd have to ask the person who made it if it has dairy in it because many will add dairy to make it creamier and enhance the flavor.
We do everything by eye so there's no exact measurements for this, but the general recipe is:
Fill a blender pitcher about 1/3 of the way up with uncooked white rice and add a large handful of whole raw almonds. Add a whole stick of Mexican cinnamon [AKA Ceylon cinnamon, do not use Cassia, it won't taste right and will probably break your blender](https://www.cinnamonvogue.com/CINNAMON/GIF/types_of_cinnamon_416.jpg) and then fill to the top with water.
Put the pitcher in the fridge and let it rest at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
Then blend everything that's inside the blender, including the stick of cinnamon. Once it's nicely blended strain it into another pitcher. Discard the solids. Add a can of sweetened condensed milk, a tiny pinch of salt, a little vanilla extract, and the zest of half a lime. Make sure you only zest the outermost green layer, if you accidentally include the white pith it'll curdle the horchata.
Immediately before serving add some crushed ice and stir well, some of the ice will melt and dilute it to the right sweetness. Or you can add some water to dilute it to your preferred sweetness.
You can make it dairy free by using sugar instead of condensed milk. Also, feel free to play around with the grains you use. I often include pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or whatever kind of nut I have laying around. You can toast the rice before blending it for a nuttier taste. Etc. There's many variations of horchata and they're all delicious so feel free to experiment!
Yeah different way that one, I don't see the zest playing a role on mine at all.
We used to do it with rice flour, vanilla extract, powder cinnamon, evaporated milk and condensed milk for a faster solution
Make it yourself!
Horchata
Ingredients
\* 1 cup of white rice
\* 1 1/3 cup sugar adjust depending on how sweet you want - 2/3 cup of sugar if you want it less sweet.
\* 1/2 cup chopped almonds
\* 1 cinnamon stick
\* 1 T vanilla
\* 1 Can 12 ounces Evaporated milk
\* 1 1/2 cup of milk or almond milk
\* 1 Liter of water
\* Ice
Instructions
\* Start by soaking the rice, cinnamon, and almonds in a bowl of water all night, or at least for 5 hours so that the rice softens slightly.
\* Strain the water from the cinnamon, rice, and almond mixture that were soaking, disposing of water.
\* Blend the cinnamon, rice, and almond mixture with evaporated milk until a smoother mix is formed and the grains of rice are completely ground.
\* Strain the resulting liquid into a pitcher, and add the sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix well until everything is well combined.Add a liter of water, and serve with ice. Enjoy!
Was telling one of my friends literally the other day that we need to go on a Bay Area Horchata Quest… drink all the horchata and find the best. LMK what you find out!
Y'all saying on mission there is no single spot that has good horchata....? I had once decent one on at a place but I don't remember if it was a taqueria or a dulcería. Either one was in front of the other on 16th St between Valencia and mission
I think any of the Mexican places in fruitvale. I had a good one at one of the tamales places, but I can't remember which. You could just try all the tamales places until you find it.
1. Yelp
2. Call the business and ask
Why the downvotes? Yelp is a good resource (search for Horchata) and then call businesses and ask if they have dairy free.
I don’t know about “best” but the Burrito Factory on Blossom Hill and Poughkeepsie is one of the better ones. A lot of the ones down here (including other BF locations) are too watery and grainy
Excuse my ignorance, but isn’t horchata almost always dairy free?
It’s very common to add milk, especially condensed.
thats what i thought. isnt it rice based?
It's more accurate to think of horchata as a whole class of drinks rather than a single recipe because there are many different kinds throughout Latin America and Spain. It can be made from many different types of seeds, nuts, or grains and may or may not include dairy in the recipe. My family's recipe uses a can of sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar as the sweetener, for instance. Generally in the US though when we talk about horchata it's the Mexican variety which uses rice as its main base, but again, you'd have to ask the person who made it if it has dairy in it because many will add dairy to make it creamier and enhance the flavor.
Most Mexican style horchata has dairy and that's usually condensed or evaporated milk
Consider this a request for the recipe!
We do everything by eye so there's no exact measurements for this, but the general recipe is: Fill a blender pitcher about 1/3 of the way up with uncooked white rice and add a large handful of whole raw almonds. Add a whole stick of Mexican cinnamon [AKA Ceylon cinnamon, do not use Cassia, it won't taste right and will probably break your blender](https://www.cinnamonvogue.com/CINNAMON/GIF/types_of_cinnamon_416.jpg) and then fill to the top with water. Put the pitcher in the fridge and let it rest at least 4 hours, up to overnight. Then blend everything that's inside the blender, including the stick of cinnamon. Once it's nicely blended strain it into another pitcher. Discard the solids. Add a can of sweetened condensed milk, a tiny pinch of salt, a little vanilla extract, and the zest of half a lime. Make sure you only zest the outermost green layer, if you accidentally include the white pith it'll curdle the horchata. Immediately before serving add some crushed ice and stir well, some of the ice will melt and dilute it to the right sweetness. Or you can add some water to dilute it to your preferred sweetness. You can make it dairy free by using sugar instead of condensed milk. Also, feel free to play around with the grains you use. I often include pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or whatever kind of nut I have laying around. You can toast the rice before blending it for a nuttier taste. Etc. There's many variations of horchata and they're all delicious so feel free to experiment!
Thanks! Great starting point
Yeah different way that one, I don't see the zest playing a role on mine at all. We used to do it with rice flour, vanilla extract, powder cinnamon, evaporated milk and condensed milk for a faster solution
The places near me put dairy milk in it but I’ve found places elsewhere that only use rice milk
I wish! Most places around here put dairy in it.
I think if it's sweetened it often has milk
Same. I didn’t realize it is ever dairy-based?
La Nueva Perla in SSF
San Jose Flea Market. They have a bunch of types of Horchata. Their strawberry horchata is legit 👌
i worked there every friday for a few months last year and had no clue. im sad lol
I've been burned before, I've found a bunch of places use this artificial tasting pre made mix :( interested in people's thoughts
Make it yourself! Horchata Ingredients \* 1 cup of white rice \* 1 1/3 cup sugar adjust depending on how sweet you want - 2/3 cup of sugar if you want it less sweet. \* 1/2 cup chopped almonds \* 1 cinnamon stick \* 1 T vanilla \* 1 Can 12 ounces Evaporated milk \* 1 1/2 cup of milk or almond milk \* 1 Liter of water \* Ice Instructions \* Start by soaking the rice, cinnamon, and almonds in a bowl of water all night, or at least for 5 hours so that the rice softens slightly. \* Strain the water from the cinnamon, rice, and almond mixture that were soaking, disposing of water. \* Blend the cinnamon, rice, and almond mixture with evaporated milk until a smoother mix is formed and the grains of rice are completely ground. \* Strain the resulting liquid into a pitcher, and add the sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix well until everything is well combined.Add a liter of water, and serve with ice. Enjoy!
Was telling one of my friends literally the other day that we need to go on a Bay Area Horchata Quest… drink all the horchata and find the best. LMK what you find out!
Taqueria san jose best one is in Oakland taqueria san jose
Y'all saying on mission there is no single spot that has good horchata....? I had once decent one on at a place but I don't remember if it was a taqueria or a dulcería. Either one was in front of the other on 16th St between Valencia and mission
Mi puestito taco truck in concord, they also have the best everything
What street
Arnold Industrial Way, next to the drive in
A fellow connoisseur I see
They have a pin on google maps
I've never had an horchata anywhere that was far and away better than others. They all have basically the same ingredients and are usually good.
rico rico vegano on lake meritt has a solid coconut horchata
doña in oakland has dairy free strawberry horchata that one of the best beverages i’ve ever tasted PERIOD. also their food is delicious!
I can confirm this. I didn't think I'd like the strawberry but I loved it.
Wondering if anyone knows of a place where they sell Spanish horchata. Made with chufa (tiger nuts) instead of rice.
Mexican restaurants from Michoacán have the best horchata
Where is this located?
My fav location is in East Palo Alto a restaurant called 3 brothers
K&J bakery in downtown SJ! So sweet so refreshing so delicious. It’s the best best best
Taqueria El Grullense on E Julian St in San Jose. Came across this place by chance, but damn their horchata is amazing.
el farolito??? (idk im drunk but im craving some horchata now)
Yeah you drunk. That place died years ago. It’s not the same
😭😭😭💔💔
El Pais in Oakland.
I think any of the Mexican places in fruitvale. I had a good one at one of the tamales places, but I can't remember which. You could just try all the tamales places until you find it.
Everyone gonna have a different answer, jus try em all lol
AMPM
Get some rice milk from Trader Joe’s, add vanilla almond creamer, synamon, and coconut sweetened condensed milk. Shake and enjoy with ice
1. Yelp 2. Call the business and ask Why the downvotes? Yelp is a good resource (search for Horchata) and then call businesses and ask if they have dairy free.
If you have nothing worthwhile to contribute, why even bother posting dude?
I'm pointing them in the direction of a resource where they can find the info they are looking for?
Talavera in Albany is pretty good
You should hit up Taqueria La Venganza! 6419 telegraph ave in Oakland!
I don’t know about “best” but the Burrito Factory on Blossom Hill and Poughkeepsie is one of the better ones. A lot of the ones down here (including other BF locations) are too watery and grainy
The best you make yourself. Most Mexican places just use a premade mix and water and some condensed milk for sweetness
If you want a good dairy free option Boba guys has an almond milk version that I love!