If there is a typical product from the east and above all from Valencia (in addition to paella), this is the vegan horchata, while paella is a recipe, the horchata is a derivative of a typical local product and therefore much more linked to its land of origin. It is protected by a denomination of origin.
The vegan horchata is the juice of chufa (tigernut), a tuber from the “juncia avellanada” plant. It is a milky white liquid obtained by pressing these tigernuts which are small tubers, between 5 and 15 mm. and with a very sweet taste.
Chufa is probably one of the first foods consumed by humans and it is widely spread all over the world. In some areas, it is considered as a weed because of its rapid growth and its difficult eradication from other crops.
Chufa and the vegan horchata has many benefits, both at intestinal, cardiovascular, immune and dietary levels.
The increase in the worldwide consumption of vegan horchata is forcing to look for new production spaces since the production of Levante is totally insufficient to satisfy this growing demand.
It is curious to note that the preparation of the land for the cultivation and harvesting of chufas in Valencia and especially in Alboraya, which is the most typical place for this crop, is surprising.
The land in the plots designated for this crop, at a depth of more than 50 cm, has been previously sieved and is free of stones (even the smallest ones).
This allows to use a harvesting system which consists of piling up the entire layer of soil in the centre of the plot to a depth of 40-50 cm, after the plants have been removed.
Later that land was sieved, and since all the stones had been removed, as I said, all that ares collected are chufas.
The land is again extended and the plot is levelled and ready for the next planting of chufas or other fast growing crops. in this plots are frequently planted between 4 and 6 crops of different products every year.
As in all the products, the organic cultivation is more and more valued. That’s why the organic and vegan horchata is being promoted more and more It has all the properties of the traditional horchata. Vegan horchata has not been cultivated with chemical fertilizers and other products of doubtful suitability for human consumption.
To sum up, the vegan horchata is a good food with many beneficial benefits for the health and therefore it’s highly recommended to consume it. It’s an excellent refreshing drink for the summer. It usually consumed “liquid” or ” hailed”. In the area of Valencia they also ” dip” in it a kind of typical biscuits called Fartons, which are very tasty and I recommend you to taste them.
You can buy online vegan horchata through our website Gastronomic Spain and receive it at your home, in all the countries of Europe.
