What is the flavor of horchata?

Horchata has a creamy, lightly sweet taste with warm notes of cinnamon and vanilla. The flavor comes primarily from soaked rice blended with spices and sweeteners. It’s smooth, comforting, and often compared to a rice-based cinnamon milk.

What does horchata taste like at Starbucks?

At Starbucks, horchata-inspired drinks—like the Horchata Almondmilk Frappuccino—offer a sweet cinnamon-forward flavor, blended with vanilla and almond milk. The result is creamy and dessert-like, but usually sweeter and more syrupy than traditional horchata.

What is horchata syrup at Starbucks?

Horchata syrup at Starbucks is a flavored sweetener used in some of their seasonal beverages. It mimics the horchata flavor using cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar but doesn't contain actual rice. It’s designed to give drinks a creamy, spiced sweetness reminiscent of the classic beverage.

Why is horchata so sweet?

Horchata gets its sweetness from added sugar or sweetened milk. Traditional recipes rely on white sugar, but modern versions may use condensed milk or flavored syrups. Since rice has a neutral flavor, sweeteners are added to bring out its creamy, comforting taste.

Horchata Flavor: What It Tastes Like and How to Make It

Name: Horchata Flavor: What It Is, How It Tastes, and How to Make It
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h 5 min
Total time: 4 h 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 cup long-grain white rice; 4 cups warm water; 1–2 cinnamon sticks; ½ to ¾ cup granulated sugar (to taste); 1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 cups milk or almond milk (optional); Ice cubes, for serving; Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)

Description

Horchata flavor is sweet, creamy, and spiced with cinnamon. Discover what it tastes like, how it’s made, and why it’s so irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup long-grain white rice
4 cups warm water
1–2 cinnamon sticks
½ to ¾ cup granulated sugar (to taste)
1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups milk or almond milk (optional)
Ice cubes, for serving
Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
In a large bowl, combine rice, cinnamon sticks, and warm water. Cover and let soak for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Transfer the soaked mixture to a blender. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes until the cinnamon and rice are finely ground.
Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher to remove solids.
Stir in sugar and vanilla extract. Adjust sweetness to your liking.
If desired, add milk or almond milk for a creamier texture.
Chill before serving. Serve over ice and sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

Notes

For extra depth of flavor, toast the cinnamon sticks lightly before soaking.
You can substitute vanilla with almond extract for a nutty twist.
Horchata stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Shake before each use.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Category: Drinks
Method: Soaking & Blending
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 180
Calories: 180
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 15mg
Fat: 2g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: Sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, white rice, Almond milk, grain white rice, mexican cinnamon sticks, hot