Special Spanish drink: Horchata
The ultimate treat for foodies? Discovering and tasting amazing new dishes or drinks. So during a weekend away in Valencia, I drank horchata for the first time: a creamy drink that I didn’t know, despite my Spanish background.
Horchata is made from chufas, also known in the Netherlands as tiger nuts. They look like nuts, but are actually small tubers. They grow in clusters beneath muddy soil and are harvested at the end of November. The harvest is then washed, dried for three months and soaked in water overnight before the drink can be made.
Making horchata
What’s the only thing left to do? Press the tiger nuts and mix them with some sugar or honey. Chufas are quite sweet on their own, which is why I prefer the unsweetened version. Still, I can imagine that people who don’t like earthy flavors would happily add a spoonful of sugar. Want to make horchata yourself? Soak the dried chufas in water overnight and blend them with extra water in a blender.
Horchateria Santa Catalina
I drank this sweet, milky drink at Horchateria Santa Cantalina, Valencia’s oldest horchateria: highly recommended if you’re going to Valencia. The walls are adorned with white-painted tiles that look even whiter under the fluorescent lighting. There are also marble tables and wooden chairs. Not exactly very cozy.
We don’t mind, because the food and drinks here are simply good. The horchata is served with a puff-pastry stick and powdered sugar for dipping. Once you’ve had this, your energy levels will be just fine for the next three hours.
Orochata
Licor 43 used this delicious Spanish drink as inspiration for Orochata, a special blend of Licor 43 and horchata. Not too sweet and not too strong, just right. No cream is used to make the liqueur, which makes it an easy-drinking beverage. Perfect for your next drinks gathering. Two large ice cubes, a nice glass and you’re done.
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