Q1: Why did packaged grocery store horchata products face nationwide recalls?
A1: Federal regulators issued recalls between 2024 and 2026 after factory audits revealed improper thermal processing that created bacterial risks, alongside failure to declare dairy allergens on labels targeting vegan consumers.
Q2: Is authentic Mexican horchata completely dairy-free?
A2: Traditional street styles vary widely. While the foundational base is made purely of rice, water, and canela, many modern Mexican recipes use evaporated milk or sweetened condensed milk for richness. Authentic vegan versions skip the dairy and rely entirely on concentrated rice milk and almond purée.
Q3: What makes Mexican canela different from ordinary ground cinnamon?
A3: Mexican canela is Ceylon cinnamon (*Cinnamomum verum*), featuring delicate, layered, crumbly bark. It imparts a sweet, citrusy warmth. Most grocery store cinnamon is Indonesian or Chinese cassia (*Cinnamomum cassia*), which has a hard, thick bark and an intense, peppery bite that overpowers delicate rice milk.
