Horchata de Chufa is the famous Spanish drink that absolutely quenches your thirst during the hot summer months. It is sweet, mild and perfect for a hot day! Today, we will share a bit of a story about this very popular drink!
Horchata is a common drink in Spain and Mexico, as well as in other parts of America. Horchata is generally the name given to various plants and nut-based drinks. In Spain it is prepared with soaked and crushed tiger nuts which are like chickpeas but are wrinkly and chewy in texture and in Mexico and other regions where the drink is popular, it is made from grounded rice and sugar. Drinks like Horchata have passed through cultures where different seeds and nuts with milk or water with sugar are used to make various drinks. The particularity of the Horchata of Spain is the use of tiger nuts, which are only used in the Horchatas from Spain. Speaking of the history of Horchata, it goes back to the Egyptian civilization. Tiger nuts were one of the earliest known domesticated crops and were widely used in Ancient Egypt. During the reign of the Moorish kingdom in Spain, from the 8th to the 13th century, tiger nuts were brought to Spain. The etymology of the word Horchata, is derived from the Catalan word orxata, from ordiata which means barley, as the drink was originally prepared from barley. Horchata de chufa, where chufa means "tiger nuts", is the name given to the famous Horchata drink made from tiger nuts in Spain. The Moors found in Valencia, a city in eastern Spain, in what is now Catalonia, the ideal place to grow chufas or the tiger nuts. Therefore, it is also believed that the Horchata de chufa originated in Valencia, Spain. as the drink was originally prepared from barley. Horchata de chufa, where chufa means "tiger nuts", is the name given to the famous Horchata drink made from tiger nuts in Spain. The Moors found in Valencia, a city in eastern Spain, in what is now Catalonia, the ideal place to grow chufas or the tiger nuts. Therefore, it is also believed that the Horchata de chufa originated in Valencia, Spain. as the drink was originally prepared from barley. Horchata de chufa, where chufa means "tiger nuts", is the name given to the famous Horchata drink made from tiger nuts in Spain. The Moors found in Valencia, a city in eastern Spain, in what is now Catalonia, the ideal place to grow chufas or the tiger nuts. Therefore, it is also believed that the Horchata de chufa originated in Valencia, Spain.
Sipping a refreshing glass of Horchata de chufa on a sultry summer day is an absolute delight and it is a part of Spanish life to savor a glass of Horchata on a hot day. Horchata is sometimes accompanied by fartons, which again have their origin in Valencia. Fartons are confectionery that look like donuts. Almost all the bakeries, cafes, beverage stores and bars in Spain sell Horchata de chufa during the summers and some cafes and bakeries even turns into horchetarias which sell freshly made horchatas. The variation of horchatas between the cultures preparing the drink is also very interesting. The flavor of horchata is unique to each culture where the beverage is common. Some recipes use coconut milk as an ingredient to make the horchata thicker and creamier. Other flavors are added from cinnamon, vanilla and various other spices. The basic ingredient of horchata is not limited to rice and crushed tiger nuts, it is also made from cashews and almonds. New recipes revolving around the traditional horchata has been greatly in experiment in bars and cafes where it is served in the form of keystrokes and smoothies. The flavor of Horchata has been used in other recipes as well, for instance Mcdonald's has a horchata flavored donut in the US. You can also find horchatas in supermarket and grocery stores, but nothing compares to a freshly prepared horchata de chufa made from fresh ingredients. The nutritional value of the tiger nuts used in the making of horchata de chufa is extremely high. This calcium and fiber rich nut also contribute to digestion and in reducing blood sugar levels. The next time you visit Spain,
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