We Gotcha

In need of an extra dose of caffeine this week in a unique preparation? We gotcha here at TGBK because that's just what we needed this week too! We love mixing up our beverage game and trying new things - this week horchata. What is horchata you ask? We gotcha...

Horchata is a traditional beverage consumed in Latin America with different varieties of recipes/flavors depending on location. In Mexico, horchata is made with long grain rice, cinnamon, and sugar. In Spain, horchata's main ingredient is tiger nuts instead of rice which gives the final product a nutty flavor. In Puerto Rico, horchata is made with sesame seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar and sometimes has added almonds, evaporated milk, coconut milk, allspice, and even rum! We like the versions of horchata that provide an alternative, non-dairy milk beverage and created a rice based recipe this week. An important lesson that we learned just yesterday is that horchata is pronounced with a silent H - you're welcome!

Horchata Iced Latte
PREP TIME: 10 minutes + 4 hours soaking time
TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes + 4 hours soaking time
Servings: 6 cups horchata milk

Ingredients
1 cup long grain white rice
6 cups water
1 cinnamon sick
1/3 cup pure maple syrup

Combine 1 cup of rice with 3 cups room temperature water and 1 cinnamon stick in a large bowl covered with a lid or clean towel. Allow mixture to sit out at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight. Transfer soaked rice, soaking water, cinnamon stick, and 3 additional cups of room temperature water to a high speed blender.  Blend mixture on high for 2-3 minutes then strain through a fine sieve lined with 2 pieces of cheese cloth over a large pitcher. Once solid and are liquid are separated, discard the solid retained in the cheese cloth and place the liquid horchata milk back into a clean blender. Add 1/3 cup pure maple syrup and blend for a few seconds until combined. Store horchata milk in a glass container fitted with a tight lid for up to 7 days. Note that liquids and solids will separate when sitting but easily recombine with a good shake.

To make a horchata iced latte pour 4 oz of cold brew coffee (recipe here) and 4 oz of horchata milk into a glass with ice.  Top with a spoon of foam created from blending and a sprinkle of cinnamon, stir, and sip away!

We hope this beverage is a refreshing pick-me-up amidst your busy week. Having homemade horchata on hand is never a bad idea so that you have an alternative milk ready to go for any of your culinary needs. To spark your imagination we used horchata as our milk ingredient in a sweet crepe recipe and it was amazing!

Enjoy,
Jess and Cecelia