Coffee milk, a sweet concoction made from milk and a concentrated coffee syrup, is the official state drink of Rhode Island. This beloved regional beverage has its roots in the Italian and Portuguese immigrant communities of the 1920s and 1930s in southern New England. Local brands like Silmo, which was revived in 2022, and Dave’s Coffee pride themselves on producing all-natural coffee syrups without preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup, even offering decaf versions. Coffee milk is not only a childhood favorite but also an adult's nostalgic trip back in time, representing a taste of home and cultural identity for Rhode Islanders.
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