Horchata

Instructions

1. Soak the rice and cinnamon
   In a large bowl, combine the rinsed rice and cinnamon sticks with 4 cups of warm water. Cover and let soak at room temperature for at least 8 hours or overnight.
2. Blend the mixture
   Transfer the soaked rice, cinnamon sticks, and soaking water to a blender. Blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and the rice is finely ground.
3. Strain the liquid
   Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, pressing down to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
4. Add remaining ingredients
   Add the sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, cold water, and milk to the strained liquid. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
5. Chill and serve
   Refrigerate the horchata for at least 1 hour until cold. Stir well before serving as separation may occur. Pour over ice cubes in glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and a cinnamon stick if desired.