Horchata Guatemalteca

Name: Horchata Guatemalteca
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Guatemalan
Ingredients: 1 cup white rice, soaked overnight; 1/4 cup sesame seeds; 2 tbsp cocoa nibs; 2 cinnamon sticks; 6 cups water; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Ice for serving

Horchata (ohr-CHAH-tah)

Guatemalan Seed Drink

⏱ Prep Time 10 min + soaking

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 168 kcal

A refreshing, milky-white drink made from ground rice, sesame seeds, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, and vanilla, a uniquely complex Guatemalan take on the classic horchata.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 3.0g

Carbs 30.0g

Fat 4.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ sesame

Equipment Needed

blender fine strainer or cheesecloth pitcher

Presentation Guide

Vessel: tall glass with ice

Garnishes: cinnamon stick, cinnamon dust

Ingredients

1 cup white rice, soaked overnight
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 tbsp cocoa nibs
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Ice for serving

Instructions

1
Soak rice overnight in 2 cups water with cinnamon sticks.
2
Toast sesame seeds lightly on a dry pan until golden.
3
Blend soaked rice (with soaking water and cinnamon), sesame seeds, and cocoa nibs with 2 cups fresh water until very smooth.
4
Strain through cheesecloth or a fine strainer into a pitcher, pressing to extract all liquid.
5
Add remaining water, sugar, and vanilla. Stir until sugar dissolves.
6
Serve cold over ice. Stir before serving as it settles.

💡

Did You Know?

Guatemalan horchata is radically different from Mexican horchata — the addition of sesame seeds and cocoa nibs creates a richer, more complex flavor that surprises visitors.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

blender
fine strainer or cheesecloth
pitcher

Garnishing

cinnamon stick, cinnamon dust

The Story Behind Horchata Guatemalteca

Guatemalan horchata is a colonial-era fusion drink that blends Spanish rice-water traditions with Mesoamerican cocoa and indigenous sesame seeds brought via African trade routes. The result is a more complex drink than horchatas found elsewhere in Latin America. Each region of Guatemala has its own variation of the seed blend.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed afternoon refreshment, meals 📜 Origins: Colonial era fusion

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