The History of Milkshakes

What do you think about milkshakes?

A thick, chilled, colorful beverage with the toppings you love is what comes to mind. Milkshakes are widely loved by all age groups, from children to grandparents.

As many of us prefer shakes to juices, the menu card now holds a page exclusively for shakes.

Now lets discuss a short history of the milkshake!

In the 1800s, milkshakes had a different identity as an alcoholic beverage, which was not suitable for children. Basically, they resembled a type of eggnog, a drink with a rich history originating from England. Eggnog was evolved from a mixture of ale or dry Spanish wine with eggs. The word was first recorded in America in 1755, by which time it was made with local rum or hard cider by most people, and with imported brandy by the rich, showcasing the diversity of ingredients and adaptations over time.

At the same time, malted milk was introduced by William Horlick and was a trademark of Horlick’s Food Company in 1887.

Both milkshake and malted milk were considered as tonic with potential health benefits and as well as a treat. This led to the combination of the two, resulting in the creation of the malted milkshake.

In the early 1900s, there arose a demand for new and innovative treats. This gave rise to malted milkshakes turned out to be a drink made with chocolate, strawberry, syrups, etc. Although they were initially served without the addition of ice cream.

In 1922, an employee at a Chicago Walgreens, Ivar “Pop” Coulson, made a pivotal addition to the malted milkshake by adding two scoops of ice cream. This creamy heaven captured many taste buds around the world.

But many people preferred their milkshakes malt-free. So, in the 1930s, malt-less milkshakes were invented with a blend of milk with ice cream floating on top, catering to a wider range of tastes and preferences.

By the 1950s, milkshakes were everywhere, sprouting up at every corner of the globe. The widespread of milkshakes was further propelled by a milkshake machine salesman named Ray Kroc, who became the exclusive distributor of a milkshake machine. And thus, Milkshake came into existence.

Here is how an original milkshake was made in the 1880s:

YIELD - 1

PREPARATION TIME - 5 MINS

INGREDIENTS :

• 30ml Flavor Syrup
• 140ml Milk
• 1 tbsp Light Cream
• 2 cubes of ice
• Nutmeg

METHOD OF PREPARATION :

1. In a cocktail shaker, add the milk, cream, and the flavor syrup.
2. Add two medium sized cubes of ice.
3. Shake thoroughly for 2 mins until the mixture feels “ropey”.
4. Strain into a glass.
5. Grate the nutmeg on top for extra flavor.

As for flavors, the most popular choices were chocolate, vanilla, pineapple, coffee, strawberry, ginger, banana and peach.

In conclusion, milkshakes have a rich history, much like their taste with a variety of flavors and toppings. I hope they continue to be a favorite indulgence for many.

September 12th is recognized as National Chocolate Milkshake Day in the United States.

Now, I’m going to share one of my favorite milkshake recipe that is both healthy and tasty.

This milkshake doesn't contain added sugar but is enriched with nuts like almonds and cashews, milk, and of course, the star of the show - banana and dates. Both banana and dates are packed with nutrients, making this milkshake rich in carbs, dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, iron and antioxidants.

YIELD - 2

PREPARATION TIME - 15 mins (soaking) + 5 mins

INGREDIENTS :

• 3 small Bananas
• 20 soaked Seedless dates
• 15 soaked Almonds
• 10 soaked Cashews
• 1/2 tsp Cardamom (crushed)
• 1/2 cup Cold milk

METHOD OF PREPARATION :

1. Add the sliced bananas, dates, cashews, almonds and crushed cardamom into the blender and blend until smooth.
2. Now, add the cold milk of your preference to achieve your desired consistency.
3. Garnish with slivered almonds and dates.
4. Serve chill and enjoy.

Below is the video for preparation!

Have a milkshake day!!