A horchata made in the spirit of an Italian orzata — slower, thicker, and more intentional than the usual version. Activated almonds and washed jasmine rice are blended with cinnamon, kombu, and water, left in the fridge for 24 hours, then pressed through cheesecloth into a dense, creamy concentrate. Sweetened with honey, scented with Vanilla Powder and a drop or two of bitter almond essence, diluted over ice, and finished with Soma Elixir and rose buds at the glass.
It takes two days and about five minutes of actual effort. Most of it is waiting — and the waiting is what makes it taste the way it does.
A few details worth following: bitter almond essence is extremely concentrated, so add it drop by drop. The kombu supports digestibility without adding any sea flavour — remove it before pressing. And if the honey is slow to dissolve, warm a small amount of the concentrate first, stir the honey in, then mix it back through.
What's In the Glass
Soma Elixir is a 10:1 double-extracted tonic of seven medicinal mushrooms — Reishi, Lion's Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, Maitake, Shiitake, and Agaricus — extracted with Schisandra Berry and Rose Petal to support bioavailability.* In ancient India, Soma was the name for the sacred drink of the gods, associated with immortality, divine vision, and healing. Here it's stirred into a cold, creamy horchata — a daily resilience tonic added at the glass, after all the blending and pressing and waiting, so it arrives bright and undiluted.*
Whole Rose Buds finish each glass — organic Rosa damascena blooms grown in Morocco, scattered across the surface the way flowers fall. They're not just garnish. Rose is one of the oldest heart-centered botanicals in the herbal tradition, revered for its cooling, gently aromatic qualities and its association with emotional ease and openness.* They make this already beautiful drink look like something worth pausing for.
RECIPE
Soak time: Overnight (almonds)
Rest time: 24 hours (concentrate)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes: About 750ml concentrate
Serves: 6–8
Recipe by: Silvia Bifaro for Anima Mundi Apothecary
Ingredients
Horchata Concentrate:
- 1 cup raw almonds, activated (soaked overnight in salted water, then rinsed)
- ½ cup jasmine rice, uncooked and washed
- 1 strip kombu, about 5 cm
- 1 cinnamon stick, plus extra to serve
- A pinch of salt
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1 tsp Anima Mundi Vanilla Powder
- 2–3 drops bitter almond essence
- ½ cup honey (or organic stevia, to taste)
To Serve:
- Anima Mundi Soma Elixir, according to package instructions
- Ice, cold water or oat drink to dilute
- Anima Mundi Rose Buds and Petals
- A cinnamon stick
Method
- Activate the almonds: Cover with water and a pinch of salt and soak overnight. Drain and rinse.
- Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Drain.
- Put the activated almonds, rice, broken cinnamon stick, kombu, salt, and 3 cups of fresh filtered water into a blender. Blend until very smooth.
- Pour into a jar, cover, and leave to rest in the fridge for 24 hours.
- Squeeze the mixture through a cheesecloth or nut-milk bag into a clean jar, pressing out as much liquid as possible. This is your concentrate.
- Stir in the honey (or stevia), vanilla, and bitter almond essence until fully dissolved. If the honey is slow to dissolve, warm a few spoonfuls of the concentrate, stir the honey in, and mix back through.
- To serve: fill a glass with ice and pour in the concentrate. Dilute to taste with cold water for a lighter drink, or oat drink for a creamier one.
- Add Soma Elixir according to package instructions, stir, and top with rose buds and petals and a cinnamon stick.
Notes: Activating the almonds makes them easier to digest and gives a sweeter, rounder milk. Kombu supports digestibility without adding sea flavour — remove it before pressing. Bitter almond essence is very concentrated; add drop by drop. Keep the concentrate sealed in the fridge for up to 3 days and shake well before using.
Shop The Ingredients
Soma Elixir: 10:1 double-extracted 7 mushroom tonic with Schisandra and Rose for daily resilience, immune support, and vitality*
Whole Rose Buds: organic Rosa damascena blooms from Morocco, for heart-opening ritual and aromatic finish*
Discover more ritual drinks in the Blog.
