Two horchata Refrescas and a new Vanilla Spiced Horchata Freeze hit Taco Bell menus nationwide Dec. 10. The purple Chiller and churro Cold Brew Float stay at Live Mas Cafe.
Taco Bell is putting horchata on the menu, and this time you won’t need to live near a specialty cafe to try it.
The chain’s Strawberry Horchata Refresca and Vanilla Spiced Horchata Refresca, plus a brand-new Vanilla Spiced Horchata Freeze, will join Taco Bell menus nationwide on Thursday, Dec. 10, for a limited time, Taco Bell said in a press release.
The drinks are part of a four-drink horchata lineup that launched Thursday, Oct. 15, at Taco Bell’s Live Mas Cafe locations.
What horchata drinks is Taco Bell adding nationwide?
Three, according to Taco Bell:
Strawberry Horchata Refresca: a creamy, vanilla-spiced drink with hints of cinnamon, wild strawberry syrup and real freeze-dried strawberry pieces, served over ice.
Vanilla Spiced Horchata Refresca: the classic take, creamy and sweet with vanilla and cinnamon.
Vanilla Spiced Horchata Freeze: a new frozen drink that wasn’t part of the cafe lineup.
Horchata is traditionally a sweet, creamy, rice-based drink flavored with cinnamon, Sporked explained. Taco Bell’s versions borrow those vanilla and cinnamon flavors.
The Strawberry Horchata Refresca was first previewed at Live Mas LIVE 2026, Taco Bell said.
Which horchata drinks are only at Live Mas Cafe?
Two of the four cafe drinks aren’t going national, Sporked reported.
The Purple Horchata Chiller blends Taco Bell’s vanilla ice cream Chiller base with horchata syrup. It’s topped with whipped cream and a purple horchata drizzle.
The Chocolate Horchata Cold Brew Float starts with cold brew coffee. It adds a blend of the Chiller base and horchata syrup, churro crumbles and a Mexican-inspired dark chocolate syrup with cinnamon notes.
Sporked called those two “the most ridiculously intriguing drinks in the lineup.” Unless you live near a cafe, you’ll have to settle for the nationwide trio.
How much do Taco Bell’s horchata drinks cost?
At Live Mas Cafe, both Refrescas cost $4.19 for a medium and $4.59 for a large, Taco Bell said. The Purple Horchata Chiller is $4.19 small or $4.59 medium.
The Chocolate Horchata Cold Brew Float costs the most, at $4.79 small or $5.29 medium. Prices vary by location.
Taco Bell hasn’t announced prices for the nationwide drinks or the new Freeze yet.
What is Live Mas Cafe?
It’s Taco Bell’s drinks-first spinoff. There are 39 locations across Southern California, Houston, Dallas, Indiana and Las Vegas, Taco Bell said.
The cafes have sold about 1.3 million drinks and introduced almost two dozen new ones. The best seller so far is the You Seem Pretty Pink for a Baja Blast, according to Taco Bell.
Breakfast and afternoon have been the busiest times of day, the company said. That could help Taco Bell outside its usual lunch and dinner rush, Restaurant Dive noted.
Where are new Live Mas Cafes opening?
More are coming before the end of 2026, Taco Bell said:
West Lafayette, Indiana: the first Indianapolis-area cafe opens Thursday, Oct. 22, at 252 E. State St. Greenfield and Muncie follow later this year.
Southern California: a cafe at Century City Mall, plus two more planned for Irvine and Tustin.
Las Vegas: a flagship cafe inside a shipping container next to the Taco Bell Cantina on the Strip, opening later this fall.
The Vegas cafe will sell spiked drinks only available there, including a Boozy Mountain Dew Baja Blast. It will also carry exclusive merchandise.
Why is Taco Bell pushing drinks so hard?
Money. Taco Bell wants to reach $5 billion in beverage sales by 2030, and Live Mas Cafe is where it tests ideas, the company said.
“Our fans have always loved our beverages,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “The response to Live Mas Cafe has shown us they’re craving even more.”
Taco Bell isn’t the only chain chasing premium drinks, Restaurant Dive noted. Sister brand KFC is testing boba refreshers and iced lattes, and McDonald’s used its CosMc’s spinoff to develop new drinks.
When can you get Taco Bell’s horchata drinks?
The Refrescas and the Freeze arrive Dec. 10 at participating Taco Bell locations nationwide. If you’re near a Live Mas Cafe, all four cafe drinks are available now.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Taco Bell via PR Newswire (Oct. 15, 2026), the drinks, prices and cafe plans
Sporked, Mikaela Hardiman (Oct. 18, 2026), which drinks go national
Restaurant Dive (Oct. 15, 2026), the beverage push and other chains
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