Drink of the Week: Three Trees Black Sesame Almondmilk

Admittedly, my personal dairy consumption leans old-fashioned. I usually stock nothing more than a quart of plain cow’s milk in my fridge to splash into coffee. But for the occasional bowl of granola, smoothie, or batch of rice pudding, I love the flavor of almond milk. And while the options on market shelves are truly staggering, the Three Trees Black Sesame Almondmilk immediately caught my eye. Not only is it one of my favorite flavors, but it’s also a combo I hadn’t yet seen.

In our May/June issue, John Kessler explores the current landscape of the alt-milk industry. From the early aughts of soy milk’s heyday to the almond milk boom of 2011 to the oat milk avalanche (and subsequent shortage) of 2018, the alt-milk market is a force to be reckoned with. And it’s projected to grow to a value of $50 billion by 2028.

With no shortage of competition, Three Trees aims for delicious simplicity. The San Francisco-based company eschews thickeners or stabilizers in their nut and seed milk. The result is a fresh, nutty taste. The black sesame seeds add some toasty complexity and dates provide just enough sweetness. Although the milk’s sludgy, gray color made me laugh, the creamy consistency and sweet, nutty taste were practically a smoothie in itself and quickly won me over. Even a splash made my coffee delightful, adding subtle flavor. $41.94/ 6 28-oz. bottles, threetrees.com