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Discover the Holiday Cheer: Top 9 Fascinating Fun Facts About Eggnog You Never Knew!

illustration of eggnog
Get ready to sip on some fascinating tidbits as we dive into the world of eggnog with these fun and frothy facts!

1. George Washington's Eggnog Party

Next time you raise a glass of eggnog, think of good ol' George Washington, party animal extraordinaire: The first President of the United States not only served this frothy delight to guests on his birthday, but it was also a sought-after beverage on the Fourth of July. Cheers to that!
Source => morningagclips.com

2. Eggnog's Medieval Roots

If you thought George Washington only had wooden teeth and a cherry tree obsession, hold onto your powdered wigs: turns out he might have had a soft spot for eggnog, too! Those wily founding tastebuds even introduced rum and whiskey to the nog game. This holiday classic actually started as 'posset' in medieval Britain, a hot milk drink with wine or ale, and the addition of eggs was just the revolutionary touch it needed to become the global sensation it is today!
Source => theviewfromgreatisland.com

3. Colonial Indulgence

Whilst George Washington might not have beaten eggs with a wooden teeth grin: there are no confirmed eggnog recipes attributed to him, but eggnog was indeed a colonial indulgence for special occasions, thanks to its pricey concoction of milk, eggs, and alcohol.
Source => almanac.com

4. The Eggnog Riot

When West Point cadets shouted, "Make Eggnog Great Again!" in 1826, they didn't expect the results to be so boozy: The Eggnog Riot, or Grog Mutiny, erupted when whiskey was smuggled into the United States Military Academy for a Christmas party, involving one-third of the cadets in a ruckus that went on till Christmas morning, with future Confederate President Jefferson Davis participating but never landing in court. This whiskey-laced chaos then led to stricter drinking rules at the academy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Southern Drinking Custard

5. Southern Drinking Custard

Searching for a southerner's secret remedy for the winter blues or a holiday hangover? Look no further than your friendly neighborhood chicken's sidekick, the egg: Served in the form of drinking custard, this delightful concoction is a popular Christmas treat across the south. Replacing nutmeg and cinnamon with vanilla, and devoid of raw eggs, this beverage made of milk, sugar, and egg yolks is commonly enjoyed during festive seasons and even offered as a comfort drink to the unwell – bringing holiday cheer in every sip!
Source => artofnaturalliving.com

6. Noggin Origins

Next time you're sipping your eggnog, thank your noggins for the noggin: that's right, the tasty holiday treat owes its moniker to an expression that's equal parts sports, cups, and skulls! The hilarious truth: the term "noggin" originally referred to a small cup or drinking vessel in sixteenth-century British sporting slang, later evolving into a standard term for a small amount of alcohol – and it even became an eighteenth-century slang word for a person's head, famously used in The Stratford Jubilee.
Source => worldwidewords.org

7. Salmonella Safety

When nogging goes eggscruciatingly wrong: using pasteurized eggs or a cooked egg base in your eggnog can help you dodge the dreaded Salmonella dance, as raw eggs are often linked to 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths per year in the U.S. To avoid getting eggs on your face this holiday season, always read labels on store-bought eggnog and wash your hands before and after handling raw eggs.
Source => ksre.k-state.edu

8. Posset to Eggnog

Before the chickens crossed the road, they gifted medieval Britain an aristocratic tipple called posset that evolved into a holiday season staple we know and love today: Eggnog, which originally contained milk, ale, and eggs, eventually acquired sherry and became popular in America during the 1700s, inspiring Mexican rompope and Puerto Rican coquito. But beware: store-bought "eggnog" may contain only 1% egg yolk, so if you want the real "eggstra-ordinary" experience, try George Washington's homemade recipe!
Source => time.com

9. Calorific Christmas Miracle

Hold on to your Santa hats, folks, because we're about to reveal the Christmas miracle that surpasses the belly-filling magic of a Big Mac: Eggnog, that cherished holiday beverage, can pack a jaw-dropping 440 calories, 58 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of saturated fat into just a single 8-ounce serving, according to Dr. David Friedman. With a splash of rum and a dollop of whipped cream, you're staring down the barrel of a 750-calorie cup of cheer! But fear not, health-conscious elves – ready-made "light" eggnog or homemade versions with alternative milk and sugar substitutes can help keep your festive indulgence under control.
Source => doctordavidfriedman.com

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