The holiday favorite, eggnog, returns to the shelves every year for the Christmas season. It has existed for a long time, and its rotation is always accepted. But, have you ever stopped to wonder where it came from?
Although its origin is not confirmed, eggnog is suspected to have originated in the United Kingdom during the medieval era. The traditional recipe involved hot milk curdled with ale and spices to give it flavor. It was called “posset” and did not contain eggs, but according to Time magazine, monks in the 13th century added them along with figs.
The drink was used as a flu remedy due to the spices, but the drink was also enjoyed by the wealthy, who could afford sugar, milk and eggs.
According to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, eggnog was a common drink in the American colonies too. The colonists had cows and chickens and traded their grains for sugar to create rum for their eggnog.
Eggnog meets Christmas, and then drunken tragedy
The drink became a Christmas tradition in the 17th century, and its popularity peaked before the 21st century. It has stayed a staple since.
Everyone wanted the warm, spiced and spiked drink, including the West Point class 1826.
Known as the Eggnog Riot or grog mutiny, Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, the superintendent, banned alcohol on campus. He usually lifted the ban during Christmas time but decided not to do so in 1826.
Many cadets were angry over this because it would break the tradition. Determined to keep the practice, the cadets snuck in about four gallons of whiskey to campus and drank the amber liquid with eggnog.
The cadets became irrational and loud, waking Captain Ethan Allen Hitchcock. He commanded all cadets to go to bed, while some did, others refused and threatened Hitchcock with their dirks–a long straight dagger–bayonets and pistols. It became a drunken mutiny, cadets against the commanders.
It was soon stopped and led to one soldier and 19 cadets being dismissed or leaving West Point by choice.
“Egg”nog finally gets some egg
Back then, eggnog was just hot milk, ale and nutmeg. Now, egg yolks are the main ingredients along with new additions, including sugar and vanilla. In Mexico, they even switched the nutmeg to cinnamon sticks, calling their version of the drink Rompope.
Today, there are lots of ways to drink eggnog. A current viral trend involves making a latte with eggnog, espresso and cinnamon. If you’re looking to try it at home, make some eggnog or buy it from the grocery store, add coffee or espresso and mix the ingredients to create the viral latte.
And, while we love trying viral trends, the traditional Christmas recipe will never lose its spark. It is nostalgic. It’s liquid holiday spirit.
The Traditional Recipe
Ingredients:
- six egg yolks
- four cups milk
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
- Pour two cups of milk into a saucepan, along with the cinnamon and vanilla. Whisk it until it is well mixed.
- Bring it to the stove and heat the milk mixture to a boil.
- In a bowl, add egg yolks, separating it from the whites. Then, pour in the sugar and whisk until light and fluffy.
- Once the milk is boiling, remove it from the stove and slowly incorporate it with the egg mixture while whisking. This method tempers the egg without scrambling it.
- Reheat the saucepan on the stove until it thickens.
- Once thickened, add in the nutmeg, remaining milk and vanilla.
- Finally and most importantly, enjoy!
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