Today is National Chocolate Milkshake Day! Smooth, frothy, rich, and sweet are just a few of the words that describe today’s reason to celebrate. But did you know the sweet history of this favorite cold and creamy concoction?
When you picture a milkshake, you probably think about a sweet treat you can enjoy with the kids—this wasn’t always the case. Back in the late 1800s, milkshake was the name used for a mixture of eggnog and whisky, so not quite what you think of as today’s creamy kid-friendly combo. And did you know that the first reference to a milkshake did not even appear in a British newspaper until 1885?
Of course, you can find malt at most milkshake shops, but today’s modern milkshakes have evolved a bit more. Ivar “Pop” Coulson, a Walgreens employee, created the milkshake we know and love today. Malted shakes were made by blending milk, chocolate syrup, and a heaping spoonful of malt powder in a metal cup and pouring the tasty mixture into a glass served with a straw. In 1922, on a particularly hot summer’s day, Pop invented his creation. To this simple mixture of milk, flavored syrup, and malt, he added several generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. And there you have it! The famous ice cream milkshake we all know and love was created!
To make it easier to blend the ingredients for milkshakes at drugstores and soda fountains, the first electric blender was invented by another “Pop” – Polish-American engineer Stephen J. Poplawski – shortly after Pop Coulson’s milkshake invention. A patent for the design was filed in 1922, and the appliance was first produced by the Arnold Electric Company. Poplawski later patented a machine to liquefy fruits and vegetables in 1932. Then in 1937, musician Fred Waring introduced a significantly improved blender, the Waring Blendor, making it a popular kitchen appliance.
To celebrate National Chocolate Milkshake Day, why not whip up and enjoy a delicious milkshake for dessert tonight? To make your own at home, here’s a great 5-Star recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch that’s sure to make your frozen chocolate dreams come true.
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