The "Portlandia" is our black sesame almond milk. It's exclusively available at our Beaverton, OR location.
Back in 2017, Stacey (our CEO), made a trip to Portland, OR, and immediately fell in love with the city and its beautiful and breathtaking greenery.
She manifested that one day, she would open up a MILK+T there. Little did we know, that manifestation would come to fruition through a number of serendipitous events that eventually led to crossing paths with the right people at the right time. Before we knew it, we packed our bags and moved our lives to Hillsboro, Oregon.
During the first 3 months of adjusting to our new home, we experienced dozens of moments that resonated from the show "Portlandia". From living under the sunny skies of California to experiencing the consistent heavy gray skies of the PNW, the drink itself is a memory in a cup that captures our time living in Oregon.
But why black sesame? Black Sesame is a staple in many Asian desserts, and it was no different for Stacey growing up. Every Sunday after a big family meal, her grandma would come out with her black sesame dessert. It was a warm dessert with black sesame ground in and had a stew-like consistency. Growing up with the familiar taste, she knew she had to add it to the menu!
The "Portlandia" is a combination of nuttiness and creaminess with an earthy texture that consists of 3 main ingredients: black sesame powder, cane sugar, and water.
To recreate this iconic drink follow the bobawasted recipe below:
How to make the Portlandia (black sesame almond milk tea):
Serving size:
Makes Approximately. 1 cup of syrup and one 16 - ounce (475 ml) drink.
Ingredients:
- Black Sesame Powder
- Cane Sugar
- Water
- Milk of your choice (we recommend using almond milk to compliment the nutty taste of black sesame, but you can use your preferred milk preference)
Measurements:
Black Sesame syrup:
1/2 cup black sesame powder (or black sesame seeds ground up with a food processor)
1/2 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup water
Drink:
2 cups ice (cubed ice works best)
2/3 cup (160 ml) almond milk
1/4 cup (60 ml) purified water
Directions:
To make the syrup: In a saucepan, combine the black sesame powder and water, stirring until nicely mixed
Add sugar and bring the mixture to a boil; stirring constantly
Remove from the heat and let cool for 2-3 hours
To make the drink: To a shaker, add your desired amount of black sesame syrup:
4tbs for “normal” sweetness
3tbs for 75% sweetness
2tbs for 50% sweetness
5. Add the ice, followed by milk of your choice
6. Cap your shaker and shake until the syrup is mixed with the milk
7. Add the toppings (cough* cough*, boba) to your serving glass and enjoy!