Three Sisters Nixtamal Masa Factory Make the Tortillas Behind Portland’s Best Tacos | Eater Portland

"In a small Brentwood‑Darlington storefront I found Three Sisters Nixtamal, established in 2012 by Adriana Azcárate‑Ferbel with her husband Pedro Ferbel‑Azcárate and chef Wendy Downing; they nixtamalize organic white, yellow, blue (and sometimes red) heirloom corn from small growers in Chihuahua and Oaxaca and experiment with local strains, grind it on a lava‑rock‑bladed machine into fragrant, slightly nutty masa, then feed the dough into a conveyor‑belt oven to stamp tortillas from 4‑inch minis to 9‑inch huaraches. They are the only tortilla retailer in the Northwest that transforms organic nixtamalized corn into finished product in‑house, and their tortillas and bulk masa—sold at their retail storefront, Portland Farmers Market, People’s Food Co‑op, and Whole Foods—have noticeably more flavor and nutritional benefits (niacin, folic acid) than industrial, Maseca‑based tortillas. They also offer classes teaching masa shaping and cooking, work with farmers to preserve and revive heirloom strains, and earn praise from both chefs and everyday customers for preserving tradition and bringing respect to the spirit of the corn." - Eater