Horchata

Horchata is a sweetened plant-based beverage with two largely independent lineages. In Spain, horchata de chufa is made from tiger nuts, a tuber cultivated in the Valencia region since at least the medieval period, and is traditionally served ice cold. In Mexico and Central America, horchata is typically made from rice, often with cinnamon and sometimes almonds or vanilla, an adaptation that developed after the Spanish colonial period introduced the drink's name and general concept to the Americas without its original tiger nut base, which was harder to source locally. Both versions are served as a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink, commonly alongside spiced or savory food.