From earth almond.
According to legend, King James I of Aragon (1205–1276), known as the Conqueror, once compared this traditional Spanish drink to gold. After conquering Valencia, a local girl offered the weary ruler horchata. Delighted by the taste of this refreshing drink, he exclaimed: “Aixo es OR, XATA!”, which in Catalan means “this is gold, girl!”
From the perspective of folk etymology, this phrase became the basis for the drink's name. However, linguists assert that the word horchata comes from the Catalan orxata, which has a root similar to the Latin hordeum, meaning “barley.” The rejection of this version by folk etymologists is quite understandable — in Spain, horchata is not made from barley, but from the tubers of a plant resembling a sedge. Spaniards call it chufa, while other nations refer to it as earth almond, tiger nut, or simply — edible sedge.
This perennial herbaceous plant of the sedge family can be found in Africa, Asia Minor, and Europe. However, it is in Spain, especially in the eastern province of Valencia, that the cultivation of chufa is treated with particular care.
The tubers of the plant are ground, gradually adding water, then the resulting mixture is strained and sweetened with sugar. The result is a drink that resembles milk in color and consistency. Its taste is similar to nut milk. Horchata is usually served chilled.
The residents of Valencia hold festivals in honor of horchata. The tradition of making the drink from chufa in this region dates back to the 8th–13th centuries — the time of Muslim rule, when earth almond was introduced and quickly spread.
In ancient times, the drink made from chufa was consumed in Egypt and Sudan long before the Spaniards created their version of horchata. Currently, in Latin America, Cuba, and other countries, similar drinks are made from rice or almonds, adding not only water but also citrus juices.
