Following the traditional Valencian recipe, Mercader uses local chufa nuts and cane sugar to make the most authentic packaged horchata de chufa. There is no refrigeration needed to store this horchata, so you can keep it on your pantry shelf until you are ready to serve it. Serve very well chilled. Horchata , or orxata , is a name given to various kinds of plant milk beverages of similar taste and appearance. It originated at least as far back as 13th-century in Valencia, where it is known as orxata de xufa. In Spain it is made with soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts.