National Eggnog Day is observed once a year on the day before Christmas. Also known as egg milk punch, eggnog is a very popular drink throughout the United States during the holidays.
Eggnog is a sweetened dairy-based beverage that is traditionally made with milk and cream, sugar, whipped eggs and spices. When served at parties and holiday get-togethers, liquor is often added to the eggnog such as brandy, rum, whiskey, bourbon, vodka or a combination of liquors. The filled glass is typically garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spice.
- The origin of the eggnog drink is debated. It is the belief of some that the drink was originally developed in East Anglia, England, while others believe it originated as a medieval European beverage made with hot milk.
- The first time the term “eggnog” was ever used was in 1775 when Maryland clergyman and philologist Jonathan Boucher wrote a poem about the drink, which surprisingly was not published until thirty years after his death! The poem, which you’re bound to be curious about, went like this:
- “Fog-drams in the morn,
or better still egg-nogg.
At night hot-suppings,
and at mid-day, grogg.
My palate can regale” - The first printed use of the term was in 1788 in the New-Jersey Journal of March 26th, which referred to a young man drinking a glass of eggnog. Eggnog may have developed from posset, a Medieval European beverage made with hot milk that curdled up when mixed with wine or ale and was then flavored with spices.
- For a serving of eggnog (one cup), you will be consuming approximately 342 calories. Of those calories, 167 are from fat.
- Gelatin can be found in some eggnog, though it is typically cream, milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Eggnog became big in America around the 18th century when it made its way across the Atlantic Ocean, though there is debate exactly when and where it originated.
- The word eggnog is believed to be derived from the word “noggin.” A noggin is a small wooden cup that the drink was served in.
- Eggnog sold in stores in the United States does not contain raw eggs.
- The most common spices sprinkled on eggnog are cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Records from Mount Vernon show that George Washington was a fan of eggnog. He often served his own recipe, which included rum, rye whisky and sherry.
- In the 1800’s, eggnog was often recommended to treat diseases, such as malaria.
- American’s consume more than 135 million pounds of eggnog each year.
- One cup of eggnog consists of over 210 calories, 11 grams of fat and 150mg of cholesterol.
- The Eggnog Riot took place Dec. 24-25, 1826 at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. Whiskey was smuggled into the academy two days before Christmas,and was used to make the eggnog that induced the out of control party that turned into a riot. The riot stopped Christmas morning, and many cadets received court-martials. One of the participants of the riot was future president of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis.
- Dwight Eisenhower was also a proponent of boozy ‘nog.One of the 34th president’s favorite ways to de-stress was to cook, according to National Journal. “By the time he left office, Dwight Eisenhower had concocted a hearty collection of recipes, chronicled in his post presidential papers,” write Marina Koren, Brian Resnick and Matt Berman. “There was his famous vegetable soup and beef stew, warm hush puppies, and lemon chiffon pie … But nothing could get you drunk faster than Ike’s eggnog.” Ike’s recipe calls for one dozen egg yolks, one pound of granulated sugar, one quart of bourbon, one quart of coffee cream (half & half), and one quart of whipping cream. National Journal whipped up some of Ike’s eggnog, and found it a “very alcoholic, surprisingly light and creamy (in density, not in richness or calories) nog.”
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