Horchata and Fartons Valencia: The Sweet Tiger Nut Drink (and Pastries) You Must Try

Horchata is Valencia's signature drink — cold, milky, made from tiger nuts. Here's what it tastes like, where to find the real thing, and why fartons exist.

Horchata and Fartons: Valencia's Drink You Didn't Know You Needed

What to Expect Before You Try It

You've probably heard of horchata in some form. What you may not know is that the Valencian version — horchata de chufa — is categorically different from the Mexican rice-based horchata or the almond milk versions sold elsewhere. It's made from chufa (tiger nuts), which are small tubers grown in the sandy soil of the Valencia region, particularly in the town of Alboraya, 8km north of the city centre.

It tastes milky, cold, faintly earthy, and mildly sweet — not aggressively sweet, not artificially flavoured. It's genuinely refreshing in Valencia's summer heat, which is partly why it became a local institution.

The fartons are the pastries you dip into it. The combination is one of those food pairings that sounds odd and becomes immediately obvious once you try it.