Avena (drink)

Avena is a beverage prepared with stewed oatmeal, milk, water, cinnamon, clove and sugar consumed in South America. In Puerto Rico vanilla, brown sugar, and small amount of butter is added and in the Dominican Republic ginger and orange peels are added. Avena means oat in the Spanish language. It is somewhat similar to horchata, a sweet nut milk drink from Spain.

Avena is prepared using water and milk brought to a boil. Sugar and a small amount of oatmeal is added and cooked. If water is used, some amount of milk may optionally be added at the end of cooking. The oats may then be strained out, blended using a blender, or simply allowed to settle to the bottom of the pitcher. Cinnamon is sometimes used as well.