A Cool Summer Treat

This is one of my most favorite summer treats: Ice cold Horchata de Chufa and a magdalena (okay, this is really a Mantecada muffin that I found at 7-Eleven, but it's pretty close to Spanish magdalenas).

Now, horchata de chufa is an acquired taste. The first time I had it was my first full day in the mission in my first area, Elche. (Most of those who read my blog already know this, but I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons. And we are not polygamists.) A member ran into us in the street and invited us to her home (well, I can only guess that's what she said as I understood not one of the words that came out of her mouth! It was like that scene from The Best Two Years where the new missionary said, "That's not the language I learned in the MTC."). She gave us a dry bread-like cake called La Mona and this drink, horchata de chufa, to dip the cake in. When I took a sip of the milky-white liquid, I wondered if the lady was trying to poison me; it was awful. I didn't know what it tasted like, just that it wasn't fit for human consumption.

After about 3 or 4 months, I came to actually enjoy horchata de chufa. And now it's one of the things from Spain that I miss. I couple of years ago, I found an online store called La Tienda that sells imported items from Spain and I bought several bottles of Chufi (the "original" horchata de chufa from Valencia) and put them in my freezer. The other day, I got one of the bottles out, thawed it out, and enjoyed it with a Mantecada muffin to dip in it. Mmm, it was like I was back in Elche.

At the same time, I gave the husband a taste of the wonderful substance, and he had the same response I first had to it. He couldn't believe how awful it tasted. That's okay; that means more horchata de chufa for me!