National Horchata Day
September 24
About National Horchata Day
National Horchata Day falls on 24 September each year, celebrating the sweet, cinnamon-spiced rice drink loved across Mexico, Spain, Latin America and the United States. The day invites people to raise a glass of horchata, learn about its centuries-old history, and discover the regional variations that have made it one of the world’s most beloved refreshers. It sits within National Hispanic Heritage Month in the US, which is no coincidence.
How to Celebrate National Horchata Day
This is a day built for drinking, sharing and experimenting, so the best way to mark it is to get a glass of horchata in your hand. Here are plenty of ways to take part.
- Make horchata from scratch – Soak white rice and cinnamon sticks in water overnight, blend, strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth, then sweeten with sugar, vanilla and a splash of milk. It is far easier than most people expect and costs very little.
- Visit a Mexican restaurant or taqueria – Order a tall glass of horchata de arroz alongside tacos or a burrito. The cooling, cinnamon-sweet drink is a natural partner to spicy food.
- Try the Spanish original – Seek out horchata de chufa, the tiger nut version from Valencia, to taste the earthier, nuttier ancestor of the rice drink most Americans know.
- Experiment with flavours – Blend in cocoa, strawberry, coconut, almond or a shot of espresso to create your own twist. Horchata is a forgiving base that takes well to additions.
- Freeze it into paletas – Pour horchata into ice-lolly moulds to make creamy Mexican-style popsicles, a popular way to enjoy it on a warm September day.
- Make a horchata latte or cocktail – Combine horchata with cold brew coffee for an indulgent morning drink, or stir it into rum or tequila for an adults-only treat in the evening.
- Host a tasting – Buy or make several styles side by side, including rice, tiger nut and barley versions, and compare the textures and flavours with friends or family.
- Share it online – Post your homemade horchata, your favourite local spot, or your boldest flavour experiment using the day’s hashtags to spread the word.
What is National Horchata Day?
National Horchata Day is an annual food celebration dedicated to horchata, a family of sweet plant-based drinks enjoyed for centuries across several continents. In its most familiar American form, horchata is a milky, cinnamon-scented beverage made from rice, water and sugar, served chilled over ice. The day is observed primarily in the United States but resonates with anyone who loves the drink, from Mexico to Spain to Central America. It is a chance to honour a humble refresher that carries an enormous amount of cultural history in every glass.
When is National Horchata Day?
National Horchata Day is celebrated every year on 24 September. In 2026 that falls on a Thursday. The date is fixed, so it lands on the same calendar day annually, and it was deliberately placed within National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from 15 September to 15 October in the United States. This timing ties the celebration of the drink to the broader recognition of Hispanic and Latino culture and contributions.
The History of National Horchata Day
The drink itself is far older than the day that honours it. The story of horchata stretches back thousands of years to North Africa, where as early as around 2400 BCE a drink made from tiger nuts, known as kunnu aya, was enjoyed in the regions that are now Mali and Nigeria. Tiger nuts were carried to the Iberian peninsula during the period of Muslim rule, and by the 8th century they had taken root in the area around Valencia in eastern Spain. There, the tiger nut drink merged with influences from a Roman barley elixir to become horchata de chufa. The very word horchata is thought to derive from the Latin hordeum, meaning barley.
When the Spanish arrived in the Americas in the 16th century, they brought horchata with them. Mexico was not suited to growing tiger nuts but produced rice in abundance, so cooks adapted the recipe, swapping tiger nuts for rice and adding cinnamon and vanilla. The result was horchata de arroz, the version that has since spread across the United States through Mexican restaurants, taquerias and home kitchens. Across Latin America further variations emerged, including versions made with seeds, nuts and even melon seeds in parts of Central America.
The national day is a modern American invention. National Horchata Day was launched by ampm, a United States convenience store chain, to celebrate horchata, which ranks among its most popular drinks, and to mark the occasion during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Sources differ on the exact founding year, with some citing the early 2000s and others a later relaunch, but the intent has remained consistent: to give fans of the drink a dedicated day to enjoy it and to recognise its deep cultural roots.
Fun Facts About National Horchata Day
- The oldest ancestor of horchata, a tiger nut drink called kunnu aya, dates back roughly 4,000 years to North Africa.
- Spanish horchata de chufa is protected by a quality seal, and sixteen Valencian municipalities are recognised for growing the tiger nuts used to make it, with the town of Alboraya considered its heartland.
- Mexican horchata has a slightly grainy texture from the rice, while the Spanish tiger nut version is smoother and creamier, closer to almond milk.
- Horchata is naturally dairy-free in its traditional form, making it popular with people avoiding milk, although some modern recipes add condensed or evaporated milk for richness.
- The flavour has crossed over into desserts and treats, appearing in ice cream, cookies, frozen paletas and even horchata-flavoured coffee drinks.
- In Valencia, horchata is traditionally served with a long, sweet finger-shaped bun called a fartó, which is dunked into the cold drink.
Why National Horchata Day Matters
Beyond the simple pleasure of a cold, sweet drink, National Horchata Day is a small celebration of cultural exchange and resilience. Horchata’s journey from North Africa to Spain to the Americas mirrors centuries of migration, trade and adaptation, and each region made the drink its own. Marking the day supports the Mexican restaurants, family-run taquerias and Latino food businesses that keep the tradition alive, and it offers an easy, welcoming way to take part in National Hispanic Heritage Month. If you enjoy days devoted to beloved foods and drinks, you might also like National Coffee Day, which celebrates another daily ritual with deep global roots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Horchata Day?
It is an annual celebration of horchata, the sweet cinnamon and rice drink popular across Mexico, the United States and beyond. The day encourages people to drink, make and learn about horchata and its long history.
When is National Horchata Day in 2026?
National Horchata Day is on Thursday 24 September 2026. It falls on the same date every year and sits within National Hispanic Heritage Month.
What is the difference between Mexican and Spanish horchata?
Mexican horchata (horchata de arroz) is made from rice and flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla, giving it a sweet, slightly grainy character. Spanish horchata (horchata de chufa) is made from tiger nuts and is smoother, creamier and nuttier. The Spanish tiger nut version is the older of the two.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best horchata photos, whether it is a homemade batch or a glass from your favourite taqueria, on social media with #NationalHorchataDay and #NationalHorchataDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to try a new flavour or make their own from scratch!
Related Awareness Days
- National Coffee Day – Another beloved drink with a global heritage, celebrated each September.
- Cinco de Mayo – A celebration of Mexican culture where horchata often features alongside festive food.
- National Hispanic Heritage Month – The wider observance during which National Horchata Day falls.
Links
Featured image: Photo by Maria Moledo on Unsplash.
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