Horchata
A sweet and aromatic beverage, horchata de chufas is a traditional drink based on the juice obtained from mashed chufas (tiger nuts). Typical in the regions of Valencia and Alicante, the Moorish society that ruled Spain for centuries introduced this tasty beverage. The horchata recipe has changed very little since that introduction hundreds of years ago- although the invention of the electric blender is certainly an improvement from the traditional mortar and pestle!
Horchata Recipe
Ingredients1 Kg chufas (tiger nuts)
1 Kg sugar
5 liters water
1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
After thorougly washing and cleaning the chufas, soak them overnight in cold water. Once soaked, rinse again in cold water. Once the water runs clear through them, drain the water. Now put the chufas in a blender until they turn into a soft paste. If you need to, add a little bit of water. Add the 5 liters of water to the paste along with the cinnamon stick and stir. Store the liquid in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Then add the sugar and stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved. Finally, strain the mixture thoroughly as many times as necessary until only a milky liquid remains. Refridgerate and enjoy!