Tiger nut horchata is a sweet, refreshing drink made from tiger nuts.
It has a mild, nutty flavour and is especially popular in areas like Valencia and Alicante.
The drink was introduced to Spain during the time of Arab rule, and the recipe has hardly changed since then. The biggest difference is that nowadays we use electric blenders instead of grinding the nuts by hand.
Preparing horchata at home is straightforward, but it does take some time.
Start with 1 kilogram of tiger nuts. Rinse them thoroughly, then soak them in cold water overnight. The next day, drain and rinse them again until the water is clear. Blend the soaked tiger nuts into a smooth paste. If needed, add a little water to help it along.
Add 5 litres of water to the paste, along with a stick of cinnamon. Give it a good stir, then place it in the fridge for a few hours to chill. After that, stir in 1 kilogram of sugar until it’s completely dissolved.
Now strain the mixture using a fine sieve or a cloth. You may need to do this more than once to get a smooth, milk-like liquid. Once strained, chill it well before serving.
