Yes, we have "horchata"!

One of my favorite non-alcoholic beverages in Spain is something called "horchata"  It is made from "chufas" or tiger nuts... the tubers of a plant in the sedge family.  The tiger nuts are blended with water and sugar and served cold as a summer beverage.

 

(image from the web)

While in Madrid I asked at numerous cafés if they had "horchata", but everywhere the waiters responded "No hay horchata"... "There is no horchata."

Today we arrived in Valencia, and within a block of each other we saw two "horchaterías" (horchata shops)!  The region of Valencia is where the tiger nut sedges are grown (yes, Valencia grows much more than just oranges!).  

The sign at the second place that we saw, "Horchatería de Santa Catalina", said that it had been in business for 200 years.  Phyllis and I decided to go in and have some "horchata".  It was a very traditional place decorated with beautiful tile work.

 

Our waitress told us that it is customary to drink "horchata" with a type of pastry called "fartones" which are dunked in the beverage.  The "fartones" were good, but we thought that they were better eaten separately rather than dunked.

 

"Horchata" is also a popular beverage in Mexico.  Although the Mexican "horchata" tastes very similar, it is made from rice rather than tiger nuts.