How Many Calories Does an Authentic Horchata Drink Have?

Horchata is a traditional Spanish beverage made with rice, melon seeds or almonds and sugar.
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Made with rice, melon seeds or almonds and sugar, Horchata is a traditional Spanish beverage that's also served in Mexico. Horchata pairs well with spicy cuisine, and is sweet and rich enough for a dessert.

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Though this creamy beverage goes down easy on a hot day, you may want to keep an eye on portion sizes.

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Calories

Many authentic recipes for horchata exist, each with varying nutrition levels. Almonds are a calorically dense food, so these versions are typically the most fattening. According to the USDA, a one-cup serving of horchata served in restaurants contains 123 calories.

Fat and Carbohydrates

Horchata has about 2 grams of fat and 26 grams of carbohydrates per cup.

Sugar

Much of the calories in this drink come from sugar. If you're watching your sugar intake and overall calorie count, this may not be the drink for you — or you may choose to enjoy it on occasion.

A one-cup serving contains about 21 grams of sugar. According to the American Heart Association, adults should aim to limit daily sugar intake to under 25 to 36 grams.

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