Horchata is a name used for several types of plant-based milk beverages. The original version, *Horchata de Chufa*, originated in Valencia, Spain, during the Muslim period. It is made from tiger nuts (chufas), which are actually small tubers, not nuts. When the Spanish colonized the Americas, they didn't have tiger nuts, so they adapted the recipe using the ingredients available: rice and cinnamon. This became the *Horchata de Arroz* famous in Mexico. In Central America, a version called *Semilla de Jícaro* is made from the seeds of the calabash tree. All versions share a similar creamy texture and cooling property. The name is said to come from the Latin 'hordeata,' meaning 'made with barley,' as early versions of the drink in Rome were made from barley water.