Horchata

Horchata , or orxata ( Valencian: [oɾˈtʃata]), is a name given to various beverages, which are generally plant based, but sometimes contain milk. In Spain, it is made with soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts. In some parts of the Americas it is known as an agua fresca, and the base can be either jicaro (morro), melon seeds, sesame seeds, or white rice, along with spices. The name probably derives from a Latin word for barley, the term hordeata, which in turn comes from hordeum (barley), related to a Mediterranean tradition of grain-based beverages. The Italian and Maltese orzata, the French and English orgeat have the same origin, although the beverages themselves have diverged, and are generally no longer made from barley. A barley drink originated in ancient Egypt, where the Romans got to know it as hordeata. It was brought to the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century, during muslim rule. The main ingredient then changed to tiger nuts, a staple in the area of Valencia, and it is estimated that during the 11th century, it began to spread throughout Hispania (now Spain and Portugal). There are 13th-century records of an horchata-like beverage made near Valencia, where it remains a common drink.

Source: Wikipedia