If you didn’t know…African culture is deeply rooted in black culture. According to jamesbeard.org & Legacy Network advisor Selasie Dotse — “Horchata is also rooted in Black culture. The type of horchata that dates back to ancient times is a drink more specifically called ‘horchata de chufa,’ made from soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts. Horchata de chufa originated in North Africa around 2400 B.C.E., and with the Roman conquest of Egypt, the drink was dubbed ‘hordeata.’ The Moors then brought horchata to West Africa and Spain in the eighth century. As it spread through Spain, France, and England, the drink continued to be enjoyed both for its refreshing quality and for its perceived health benefits. The concept of horchata then spread from Spain to Mexico in the course of colonization. Because Spanish conquistadors didn’t bring tiger nuts with them to “the New World,” this variety of horchata was rice-based, and called horchata de arroz or agua de horchata, flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, and in some regions, marigolds. The drink took hold in Mexico and spread throughout North and South America. Variations on this drink are what most Americans would name and recognize as ‘horchata.’”