Matcha Horchata with Cold Rice and Cinnamon

Looking for a cold matcha drink without milk? This horchata gets its texture from soaked and strained rice, with cinnamon and tea. The recipe makes two glasses in 4 hours 20 minutes, including four hours of chilling.

• Preparation 20 minutes
• Chilling 4 hours
• Total time 4 hours 20 minutes
• Makes 2 glasses
• Tools a bowl with a lid, a fine strainer, a blender, clean cheesecloth, a small jar with a lid, a sieve, two tall glasses, and a spoon

We leave the rice to soak in the refrigerator throughout that long rest, then mix the matcha separately to avoid clumps.

Matcha horchata ingredients

• 3.5 oz (100 g) uncooked white rice
• About 2 1/8 cups (500 ml) cold water for soaking and blending
• a cinnamon stick (3 g)
• About 6.8 fl oz (200 ml) cold water to dilute the drink
• About 2 tsp (4 g) matcha
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) cold water to mix the matcha
• 1.1 oz (30 g) powdered sugar
• 4.2 oz (120 g) ice cubes

How to make matcha horchata, from soaking to serving

1. Rinse 3.5 oz (100 g) uncooked white rice in a fine strainer.
2. Put it in a bowl with about 2 1/8 cups (500 ml) cold soaking water.
3. Add the cinnamon stick (3 g).
4. Cover the bowl.
5. Soak the rice in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
6. Remove the cinnamon stick.
7. Blend the rice with its soaking water for 1 minute.
8. Strain the liquid through clean cheesecloth into a bowl.
9. Add about 6.8 fl oz (200 ml) cold water to the strained liquid.
10. Stir 1.1 oz (30 g) powdered sugar into it.
11. Sift about 2 tsp (4 g) matcha into a clean, dry small jar.
12. Add 2 tbsp (30 ml) cold water for the matcha.
13. Close the jar.
14. Shake for 20 seconds.
15. Pour the mixed matcha into the rice base.
16. Stir with a spoon.
17. Divide 4.2 oz (120 g) ice cubes between two tall glasses.
18. Pour the matcha horchata into both glasses.

Strain the rice without pressing the grains hard; their particles would make the drink thicker. If a deposit forms in the bowl, stir just before serving. The ice brings the final chill.

When rice takes the place of ice or milk

Soaked, strained rice gives horchata its own texture. Ice cubes go in only at serving time, after the matcha and strained rice are combined.

Which matcha works with rice and cinnamon?

We choose our Jade matcha and mix it with cold water before adding it to the rice. Rice and cinnamon would cover the nuances of a tea chosen for drinking on its own.

Our tip. Add the matcha only after straining the rice, so the powder doesn't stay in the cheesecloth with the grains.

Allergens. None of the listed ingredients is a common allergen; check the labels of what you buy.