From What Nut Is the Drink Horchata Made?
While some people have never heard of or tasted a drink called horchata, in some regions around the globe it is actually a popular drink -- even trendy -- and is quickly increasing in popularity in our country. Come tomorrow, you may very well see it on the menu of your local coffee shop. But until then, you may be wondering what exactly this drink is made from? Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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Horchata (pronounced or-CHA-tah) is a drink made from the tiger nut, or chufa, a small tuber from the Middle East, about the size of an acorn with a brown and wrinkled skin. It has a fairly nutty taste that's quite similar to the almond. To make the drink, the chufa is mashed to a paste and then mixed with sugar, water and cinnamon. Of course, there's a bit more to the process, but we'll leave that for later.
History
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Horchata is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt where the tiger nut was a widely and popular domesticated crop. From there it found its way to Spain where its original recipe remained intact. Spain then took the drink to Mexico, where it was then altered -- rice became the main ingredient to the beverage.
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Function
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When used in Horchata the tiger nut, or Chufa, is left to soak in a tub of water for upwards of 12 hours. It is then rinsed until the water runs clean and mashed (or pureed) until it forms a soft paste. More water is added plus a stick or two of cinnamon, and left to soak again for an additional two hours. Sugar is added and the mixture is then strained into a pitcher. You should now be left with a sort of "milk" that is served cold.
Geography
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The tiger nut is mainly grown and harvested in only two basic regions of the globe: North Africa and Spain. As the popularity of Horchata grows, we may see an increase in its cultivation.
Potential
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Much like soy milk, Horchata is now being use as a substitute to milk for people suffering from lactose intolerance. It is low in both protein and fat yet high in carbohydrates.
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