Eggnog

     What is the deal with this stuff? All it pretty much is is eggs and milk, items that are available to us all year round. So why does it only hit the markets during Christmas? Here's the history of this frothy-type milk.

     Eggnog may have come from Europe, or may have simply developed from a posset, an old European beverage made with hot milk. The "nog" part of its name may come from the word "noggin," an old English term for a small, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol. However, the British drink was also called an Egg Flip (from the practice of "flipping," or rapidly pouring, the mixture between two pitchers to mix it). Another story is that the term derived from egg and grog, a common Colonial term used for the drink made with rum. Eventually, that term was shortened to egg'n'grog, then eggnog.

     In Britain, the drink was popular mainly among the aristocarcy. Those who could get milk and eggs mixed it with brandy, Madeira, or sherry to make a drink similar to modern alcoholic eggnog.  The drink eventually crossed the Atlantic to the English colonies during the 18th century. Since brandy and wine were heavily taxed, rum from the Triangular Trade with the Caribbean was a cost-effective substitute. The inexpensive liquor, coupled with plentiful farm and dairy products, helped the drink become very popular in America. 

     So, overall, we learned that eggnog was originally from Europe, then came to America. Usually, eggnog is mixed with some form of alcohol to make it more of a liquor than a hot cocoa-type thing. Technically, though, eggnog is not a drink in itself, but something that is added into drinks. However it came to be, nowadays eggnog is actually a drink, instead of just a thing added into drinks, and only appears (at least in America) during the Christmas season. So get your eggnog while you still can!

Happy Holidays!