Why This Sweet Treat Is Texas’ New Favorite Beverage

When the Texas heat turns brutal, which is almost every summer, we're all reaching for an ice cold cup of something! While many may reach for the sweet tea, turns out, there's another beverage that Texans are turning to and it's officially become the best beverage in the whole state!

Move over sweet tea- Texas has a new favorite drink in town, and it’s sweet, creamy, and downright irresistible! From backyard BBQs to café counters, this drink is winning hearts all over the Lone Star State. It’s the kind of beverage that feels like a treat but goes down so easy you’ll be reaching for a second glass before you know it!

Texas’ Favorite Beverage

So who do we thank for crowning this champion? That would be the folks at Taste of Home and Reader’s Digest, who teamed up to find the best beverage in every state. They looked at iconic drinks from coast to coast- everything from fizzy sodas to fancy cocktails- before naming the one sip that truly represents Texas. And in our case, it’s a classic with a sweet cinnamon twist.

Texas’ crown goes to horchata! This sweet, cinnamon-kissed drink has been cooling off Texans for generations, with each region adding its own flair. Some recipes bring in almonds for a nutty kick, others lean heavy on the vanilla, but every glass serves up that perfect mix of creamy, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet.

The process of making horchata looks a little complicated- it's definitely a labor of love- but the end result is magical!

Texas’ Love of Agua Frescas

It’s not entirely surprising that horchata is the champ in Texas; many of us grew up with agua fresca and horchata is just one star in the colorful galaxy of agua frescas! Those fruity, refreshing drinks you’ll find everywhere from Texas taco trucks to backyard family cookouts. Made with everything from watermelon to hibiscus to cucumber-lime, agua frescas are basically summer in a cup. They’re light, sweet, and ice-cold- the kind of drink that makes you forget the Texas sun is trying to melt you; but they’re still good year round!

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Whether it’s a tall glass of horchata or a bright, fruity agua fresca, these drinks are as much a part of Texas life as BBQ smoke in the air or a Friday night football game. They’re the perfect sidekick for spicy tacos, long summer afternoons, and any moment you just need to cool down and kick back.