The Shamrock Shake is back on McDonald’s menu, at least for now. Monday marked the official start of the 53rd Shamrock Shake season. Customers can slurp the signature Shamrock Shake, which is made with vanilla soft serve and McDonald’s “secret” mint flavoring (topped with whipped cream, of course) and it’s frosty companion, the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry, at participating locations around the nation for a limited time.
The Shamrock Shake’s history dates back to the late 60s. It was first created in 1967 by Hal Rosen, a McDonald’s owner and operator in Connecticut who blended together minty green milkshakes for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. In 1970, it debuted in select locations across the U.S. and was considered an “instant success,” according to McDonald’s.
Did you know that Shamrock shake sales helped fund the very first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia? It’s true! In 1974, the effort started when the 3-year-old daughter of Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill was being treated for leukemia at a local children’s hospital. Hill and his wife camped out in hospital chairs and benches and saw other parents in the same situation. Local McDonald’s owner/operators donated proceeds from Shamrock Shakes to build the first Ronald McDonald House.
Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) continues to keep millions of families with sick children near the care and resources they need all over the world through a network of local chapters and over 1,000 core program,
In 2020, during the drink’s 50th anniversary, McDonald’s said it has become a “cult favorite.” Meanwhile, the OREO Shamrock McFlurry, which McDonald’s first debuted in 2020, is made with vanilla soft serve, mint flavoring, and OREO cookie pieces.
—
Photo Credit: rblfmr / Shutterstock.com