Horchata, such a mysterious drink, is it made with rice? almonds? tiger nuts? Plus so many countries claim origin to it. Well….let´s get to the facts, Horchata is actually a drink that has its origins in the town of Alboraya in eastern Spain, known as ¨Orxata¨, and it´s only made with tiger nuts. In this post I´m going to show you how to make the Authentic Spanish Horchata Recipe.
This horchata has an incredible and refreshing flavor and it´s made with just 5 ingredients! Oh yeah and it´s naturally vegan too! If you are ever in the city of Valencia, you will see street-side vendors selling this amazing horchata de chufas. This horchata is almost always enjoyed with Fartons, a delicate and spongy sweet breadstick like dessert.
So now that you know the authentic horchata is made with tiger nuts, let´s get to what exactly are tiger nuts? Well, they are actually not nuts, they are a root vegetable and are known to be a super food. Tiger nuts are loaded with so many health benefits, they´re high in fiber, a great source of magnesium and rich in potassium, among others.
In Spain, toger nuts are mostly used to make horchata, but you can also snack on them for a super healthy snack. Their shape is kind of a circular form and about the size of a raisin. Check out the video below on how to make this Authentic Spanish Horchata Recipe or print out the recipe card below. Happy and healthy drinking!
Watch the Video Below on How to Make this Authentic Spanish Horchata Recipe
Authentic Spanish Horchata Recipe - Horchata de chufa
Ingredients
- -2 cups Tiger nuts
- -4 1/2 cups cold water
- -1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- -lemon zest
- -2 tbsp white sugar
Instructions
-
Add 2 cups of raw tiger nuts into a large bowl and fill with water, about 1 inch above the tiger nuts and soak them for 24 hours
-
After 24 hours drain the tiger nuts, rinse them under cold water and add half of them to a blender, also add 1/2 of the cold water (2 1/4 cups) and blend until well combined, then add the remainder of the tiger nuts, the remainder of the cold water (2 1/4 cups), a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and some fresh lemon zest, blend until well combined
-
Run the mixture through a sieve and into a large bowl, using a wooden spoon push down on the mixture to release all the liquid into the bowl, once done discard what is in the sieve
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Transfer the liquid into a pitcher, add 2 tablespoons of white sugar and mix together, add the pitcher into the fridge for at least 4 hours to let all the flavors develop
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After 4 hours your horchata de chufas is ready to be served, give the horchata a quick mix and transfer into tall glasses, add a straw to drink, remember to always serve this horchata very cold
-
Salud!
Recipe Notes
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Mandy
22 . Jul . 2024I’m seeing this a year late, and hoping you see me question. How much chufa/tigernut flour would I use if that’s what I have instead of the tuber, abs how long would I soak the flour for to make the drink?
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27 . Aug . 2023Catherine
03 . May . 2023Aloha from Hawaii! I’ve always enjoyed Mexican-style horchata and have recently been making my own. I came across horchata de chufas and ordered from Amazon a couple of cartons of ready-to-drink ones, along with packages of tiger nuts to make my own (after checking out other recipes online, I liked yours the best). The cartons arrived first. The taste and viscosity is certainly different from the rice-based horchata; it was interesting. I thought it was ok. Then the tiger nuts came in, and I made a batch according to your recipe (with the exception of adding a cinnamon stick in the blender), and this one tasted much better than the ready-to-drink in the carton (not suprisingly!). Again, thank you, and blessings to you and yours!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
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29 . Dec . 2022Will Rickards
24 . Nov . 2021Senor Tenedor, thanks for a great and very helpful article. I was born in California and lived in Milwaukee for many years (now returned to CA), so all my horchata experience is Mexican and rice-based. I have spent some time in Spain and must have tasted the horchata there but don’t have a specific memory so I am looking forward to experimenting with your guidance. Specifically I wanted to mention that my experience with nut-based milks over the last few years recently inspired a brainstorm related to horchata: various plant-based milks drinks are used readily with espresso, how well would horchata work? (I was reading about Michelada in a local taqueria and was overthinking the idea of mixing drinks.) A little research showed that it is already being tried in some New York establishments but I am going to play around a bit with the concept… Thanks for info.
Spain on a Fork
Have never seen an infused horchata with coffee here in Spain, though I am sure it will work 🙂 Much love
24 . Nov . 2021Denise Gracias
I purchased a small bag of powdered tiger nuts. Can you tell me how I can use this to make horchata? Is it better to buy the nuts instead? I tried this drink when I lived in Barcelona, Spain several years ago. I am so happy to be able to make it at home. Thank you.
25 . Aug . 2021Spain on a Fork
You need the actual tiger nuts to make horchata, the powder will not work 🙂 much love
26 . Aug . 2021Alice
I had a revelation this week – if I can’t go to Spain due the current travel limitations, I can bring one of my favourute flaviurs and childhood memories of happy times to me. Found your page, ordered three kilos of nuts online and am now sat drinking my first glass. Que bien! Lockdown projects have been making nato, kimchi, miso, pasta, pesto, three greenhouses and now this – this has to be my absolute favourite! Muchos Gracias Albert!
31 . Jul . 2021Spain on a Fork
I am so happy to hear that Alice! Much love 🙂
31 . Jul . 2021Esther
Finding your recipe has made my day. I lived in Barcelona for 3 years where horchata was a regular treat for me in the summer. I’ve just ordered a new blender, so what can be better to christen it than making a delicious jug of horchata ??
11 . Jun . 2021Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
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26 . Apr . 2020Vivian Newkirk
This Sunday morning I was writing an essay on my favorite drink I found in a trip to Spain. When I found your blog and the recipe for horchata de chufa, I was delighted the sweetness was due to a lot of sugar contained. Then to realize how good a glass is for your body! I recall on my trip I discovered a glass in one city and had additional glasses in every city I visited. Now to know I can make my own is another delight. I’ll be sure to check your blog for other interesting recipes.
07 . Apr . 2019Spain on a Fork
I love horchata, it is so delicious and healthy, thanks for the comment Vivian 🙂 much love
08 . Apr . 2019Noe
Is it possible to make this purely out of almonds the same way? I feel like this is the original almond milk that took the world by storm but is authentically made with tiger nuts. Very cool and delicious!
08 . Feb . 2019Spain on a Fork
Yes you could absolutely make this with raw almonds, this is the classic version of Alboraya, Spain
08 . Feb . 2019Randy
So, now that I’m looking to purchase some chufa to make my own horchata, I’m finding that there is a choice between peeled and unpeeled. Do you have a recommendation between the two, for making the best tasting horchata?
20 . Sep . 2018Spain on a Fork
Hello Randy, I have always used the peeled kind, but I´m sure you can use the unpeeled kind as well, there should not be a big difference in flavor. Thanks for the comment 🙂 much love
20 . Sep . 2018Randy
This is awesome. I live in Andalucia for a few years, and buy several bottles of it whenever I get to Seattle (@ The Spanish Table). My wife and children love it, as well 🙂
12 . Sep . 2018So, seeing your recipe for it means that I can enjoy it more than the once a year that I get to Seattle!
You can get the Mexican version here, but rice is just not as good as Chufa 🙂
Thanks for providing this… and other recipes. I love Spanish food, and prepare it for my family as often as time and energy permit. I bring back saffron and other spices whenever I visit Spain, as well. I wish I could find a way to live both in Spain and in the US LOL.
Spain on a Fork
Hey Randy, yeah Chufa horchata has a better flavor than the rice version, my wife is from the USA and loves it here in Spain, she loves, thanks for the comment, much love
12 . Sep . 2018David @ Spiced
I must admit that I’ve never heard of tiger nuts before. I’m really intrigued by these, and of course I want to order some so I can make an authentic horchata. I’ve seen horchata made with milk before, but I didn’t realize that’s not the authentic way to make it. Thanks for sharing!
02 . Apr . 2018Spain on a Fork
Yeah outside of Spain most people don´t know about this Horchata, unless they have visited Valencia. It´s a great drink, thanks for the comment David 🙂
02 . Apr . 2018