On a hot Valencia afternoon, the old horchaterías fill with families. Tall glasses of cold, milky horchata arrive with a plate of long, sticky buns, and everyone dunks.
Horchata de chufa is Valencia’s summer drink: a sweet, ice-cold milk made from tiger nuts (chufas), small tubers grown around the town of Alboraya, just north of the city. It is served with fartons, soft glazed buns for dipping. Classic places include the historic horchaterías on Plaza de Santa Catalina in the centre and Horchatería Daniel in Alboraya. In 2026 a glass costs roughly €2.50–4. Horchata contains no alcohol or animal products, so it is an easy halal-friendly treat.
This guide explains what tiger nuts are, how horchata is made, how to order it, where to go, when it is in season, and what else to eat in Valencia.
What are tiger nuts?
Despite the name, chufas are not nuts. They are small, wrinkled tubers from a sedge plant, sweet and slightly earthy, with a taste close to almond.
The fertile farmland around Valencia, the huerta, has grown them for centuries, and many trace the crop to the region’s Moorish period. Valencian tiger nuts carry a protected designation of origin (DO Chufa de Valencia).
How horchata is made
- Dried tiger nuts are washed and soaked for many hours until they soften.
- They are ground with water into a milky paste.
- The paste is pressed and strained, then sweetened with sugar.
- It is served chilled, or half-frozen as a granizada.
Fresh horchata is naturally dairy-free. It is best within a day or two, which is why the good horchaterías make it daily.
How to order
| Order | What you get |
|---|---|
| Horchata (or orxata in Valencian) | A glass of cold horchata |
| Horchata granizada | Half-frozen, slushy horchata; best on very hot days |
| Mixta | Half liquid, half granizada |
| Fartons | Long, soft, sugar-glazed buns for dunking |
| Horchata con helado | With a scoop of ice cream in some shops |
Dunk the farton, bite, sip. Some people finish by using the farton to soak up the last of the glass.
Where to drink horchata
- Plaza de Santa Catalina, Valencia old town – two historic horchaterías, Santa Catalina and El Siglo, face each other near the cathedral. Tiled walls, marble tables and a lot of history.
- Alboraya – the tiger-nut town, a short metro or tram ride north. Horchatería Daniel, open since the mid-20th century, is the best-known name.
- Horchata stalls and cafés citywide – look for horchata artesana (artisan) made on site.
Many horchaterías close or cut hours in winter. Check before you go.
When to go
- Horchata season is roughly April to October, peaking in July and August.
- Afternoons are busiest, after lunch and in the early evening.
- Tiger nut harvest takes place in late autumn around Alboraya; some farms offer visits.
Halal note: horchata is made from tiger nuts, water and sugar, with no alcohol or animal products. Fartons are usually made with oil or butter; ask if you want to be sure. Watch out for Agua de Valencia, a local cocktail with alcohol despite its innocent name. Valencia has halal restaurants, mostly North African and Middle Eastern. See our halal food travel guide.
What else to eat in Valencia
| Dish | What it is | Halal check |
|---|---|---|
| Paella valenciana | The original: rice with chicken, rabbit and beans | Meat not halal-slaughtered |
| Paella de marisco | Seafood paella | Usually pork-free; ask about stock |
| Arroz a banda | Rice cooked in fish stock, served with alioli | Seafood; usually pork-free |
| Fideuà | Like paella, but with short noodles and seafood | Seafood; ask about chorizo in some versions |
| All i pebre | Eel stew from the Albufera lagoon | Fish; fine for most schools |
For more Spanish sweets, see churros con chocolate in Madrid.
What it costs (2026)
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Glass of horchata | About €2.50–4 |
| Large glass or granizada | About €3.50–5 |
| Farton | About €0.60–1.50 |
| Bottle of fresh horchata to take away | About €4–8 |
Plan your Spain food budget with the Spain food budget calculator and read tipping in Spain.
Spanish phrases
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Una horchata y dos fartons, por favor | One horchata and two fartons, please |
| Granizada, por favor | Slushy, please |
| ¿Es artesana? | Is it made here? |
| ¿Lleva cerdo? | Does it contain pork? |
| ¿Lleva alcohol? | Does it contain alcohol? |
| ¿Es halal? | Is it halal? |
Frequently asked questions
What is horchata de chufa?
A cold, sweet drink made from ground tiger nuts, water and sugar, typical of Valencia.
Is horchata halal?
Yes, in practice: it contains only tiger nuts, water and sugar, with no alcohol or animal products.
Where is the best horchata in Valencia?
The historic horchaterías on Plaza de Santa Catalina and Horchatería Daniel in Alboraya are the most famous.
Is Valencian horchata the same as Mexican horchata?
No. Mexican horchata is usually made from rice with cinnamon; Valencian horchata is made from tiger nuts.
See all Spain food guides.
Sources
- Visit Valencia – official tourism site.
- Horchata and Tiger nut.
