How to Make Refreshing Horchata

Horchata is a refreshing and sweet beverage that holds a special place in my heart.

There are countless ways to make it, but here is a simple recipe that will surely satisfy.

Your ingredients are:

- 1 stick of cinnamon

- 1/2 a cup of white, long-grain rice

- 4 cups of water

- 1/4 of a cup of sugar, or 1/3 if you would like it a little sweeter

- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Equipment needed

- Blender

- Measuring spoons

- Bowls or pitchers, to store/serve in

- Fine collinder and paper towel, or cheesecloth

- Spatula to mix with

- Foil, saran wrap, or rag

Other than the overnight time, recipe can be completed in less than an hour.

Heat up two cups of water and pour into blender, make sure the water is hot but not boiling or even simmering.

Add your rice and cinnamon stick(roughly the size of the one pictured).

Blend on highest setting, we are trying to break down the cinnamon stick and rice.

Blend for one minute before stopping and scrapping down the walls of the blender.

Blend again and repeat twice.

Pour mixture into a bowl, making sure to get all of it out of the blender.

Cover with your foil, saran wrap, or rag and let soak overnight.

Use a fine mesh collinder, such as the one pictured, or cheesecloth.

Pour your horchata through and scrape out the solids.

Press down gently with papertowel or squeeze solids if not using a collinder.

Add your sugar (or other sweetener), vanilla extract, and 2 remaining cups of water.

Mix in well.

Store cold and serve over ice.

Enjoy!