Among horchata’s many variations, Americans are most familiar with the Mexican one, a rice-based drink sweetened with sugar, spiced with cinnamon, and often flavored with vanilla.

Mexican horchata is sold ready-made and in the form of instant drink mixes that only require the addition of water or milk. The drink is served cold and can be enjoyed all day.

The drink can be tailored to your own preferences, but making a traditional Mexican horchata from scratch starts with soaking rice, almonds, and cinnamon sticks in water.

The ingredients are then blended, strained, sweetened with sugar, and further flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. Often, dairy or non-dairy milk is added for extra silkiness.

The result is a sweet, spiced beverage that is surprisingly light and refreshing. As for the taste, many people describe the flavor of Mexican horchata as similar to rice pudding.