For those who are always eager to try new things; this cold Spanish drink should be the next on your list- Let’s talk Horchata.
Spanish horchata is a drink which originally came from the Valencia region and is made from tiger nuts. Tiger nuts are not nuts, despite the name they are small, very solid tubers which almost look like dried up raisins. Tiger nuts alone are typical snacks and after soaking them in water they have multiple health benefits. If you eat between 10 to 15 a day you could start seeing an improvement to your digestive system. It is believed people have been eating them for around two million years. Archaeologists even found them in people’s teeth as well as in pharaoh tombs placed there for the afterlife as they believed it was a super-food.
Horchata also has many health benefits, it is a thick white drink which is drunk cold. To make it you must soak the tiger nuts and throw the water away to replace with fresh water a few times. Once properly softened, with fresh water you blend the nuts together to create the milk. It is common to add sugar (dates as a healthier alternative), a little bit of cinnamon and some lemon rind. Before drinking you must sieve to remove any bits or remains of the tiger nuts. It is known for its protein and antioxidants which are beneficial to the skin, it has a great amount of fibre for digestion and balances your sugar levels and can help with your gut lining.
To conclude, if you fancy a cooling, sweet drink, horchata is probably definitely for you not to mention all the benefits to your body and health. Linda Greenway chats more on this on our latest show.
