So ... how come no one ever told me about horchata before ?

[eppur_se_muova]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horchata

I had the Mexican version -- rice, milk, sugar, cinnamon. Very tasty.

Just don't tell the Chinese that the Spanish original was made with "tiger nuts".

[Major Nikon]

1. It's fairly easy to find around North Texas

It's served mostly in mom & pop type restaurants.

It's easy to make yourself.

[Melissa G]

2. Even comes in boxes from same company as Rice Dream

I use it as a creamer for my tea and coffee bevs

[cbayer]

3. It's everywhere in SoCal.

Very popular in areas with large Mexican populations.

[pinto]

4. I love horchata. A standard in Mexican restaurants here. Usually made in-house.

A local burrito place has two really good drink choices beyond the typical soda, iced tea options. Horchata and watermelon juice. The horchata has a nice cinnamon taste to it and the watermelon comes with mint. Both made in-house.

The burritos are huge, so I usually get one, an horchata and a watermelon juice to go. Two great meals.

[Warpy]

5. It's in all the supermarkets here

but I haven't been able to find it made with non dairy "milks."

And yes, it's very tasty.

[rdharma]

7. You probably won't find a "non-dairy" version........

The horchata that I'm familiar with usually has condensed and evaporated milk in it.

[Warpy]

9. I know, which is weird given that something like 90%

of Mexicans are lactose intolerant to one extent or another.

I've always had cartons of milk delivered on hospital trays here even though it says "lactose" on my dietary allergy list. I suppose it was for the coffee I never ordered.

[rdharma]

10. Nah! More like 60% Mexicans lactose intolerant

But still a high percentage. And they still use evaporated milk and condensed milk like crazy!

[Warpy]

11. I know! And the outcome means the pejoratives about bean intake

are completely false and unfair!

[rdharma]

6. Here's how they make it in Mexico

[Texasgal]

8. It's in just about every grocery

store down here!

I like mine with soy milk! Good stuff!

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

12. My Mexican daughter-in-law is lactose intolerant

So her recipe is

1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1/2 cup sugar, or to taste
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Combine the rice and cinnamon stick with 4 cups water in a blender; pulse to coarsely grind. Transfer to a large bowl and add another 4 cups water; soak at room temperature for at least 3 hours (or overnight).

Puree the rice mixture in a blender in batches until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher. Mix in the sugar and vanilla; chill.

Stir well before serving. Pour into ice-filled glasses. I like to garnish it with a dusting of ground cinnamon.

[eppur_se_muova]

13. A vegan version ! I notice no cooking is involved in this one.

I spent two years in San Antonio, where a majority of the population goes home to enjoy Mexican cooking. Never saw horchata. I was wondering if maybe it was a regional thing. I guess it just didn't make it into restaurants back then, or something.

[fizzgig]

14. i just passed this along to my sister

she's lactose intolerant and loves horchata

[flowerbells]

15. Sounds yummy

I'm going to try to find the Rice Dream kind, or any kind my store has.