Milkshake; for everyone

As you probably already know, what we understand nowadays by milkshake is a sweet and cold beverage made from milk (or malted milk powders) and ice-cream whose typical flavours are chocolate, vanilla and fruits, and which is prepared by shaking it in an automatic machine until foamy, adding later whipped cream and syrups. But, if we take into account its history, this drink had different associations in its past, apart from what we know;

The first time the term “Milkshake” appeared in print, it was in 1885 in the United States and the term made reference to a drink which contained whiskey, and not ice-cream. This type of drink was very popular during that time and was served as a tonic.

A little later, it was invented the malted milk powders as a digestive restorative. It was designed to fortify the diets of older or infirm adults and for the infant’s food and it was the principal base from which the milkshake that we know today appeared.

It happened around 1900 and its creators could be various, but the one who made this cold beverage exists in the map was Ivar “Pop” Coulson.

He took a traditional malted drink and added a couple of scoops of ice-cream; this fact took off in popularity, especially among young people, as the number of malt shops (places where this drink was sold) in cities and small towns grew across the nation, and those sites were used by students as a meeting place or hangout. At the same time, the automatic blender or mixer was created, making easier the preparation of milkshakes at home or even in bars and restaurants, and all this helped this drink became one of the most popular of its time.

Apart from these two that were developed during their history, the milkshake had different names through the years, some of them, of regional origin;

In some parts of New England and Great Britain, a milkshake is referred to a “frappe”, that is, a kind of coffee covered with foam which is very popular in Greece and Cyprus, and that is apparently similar to the American “Iced Cappuccino” or to the European “Frappuccino”.

In the 50s, milkshakes were called “frosted”, “velvets” and even “cabinets” in places such as Rhode Island because of changes in the way of pronunciation of the some drinks or other affairs and, in the 80s, with the popularization of milkshakes in restaurants, these began to add broken bits or cookies and candy bars to this beverage, calling it “Blizzard”.

At these modern times, this drink continues being at the top, and it has also been used in dentist queries to relax patients and cool their mouths after certain procedures. On the other hand, bars have returned to the habit of selling it with alcoholic content, making a circle in the history of Milkshakes.

My last point about "Milkshake" succeeding among people can be seen in a song, of Kelis, which became known around the world. In this, we can appreciate a malt shop where the drink is all the time from one side to the other because it's been asked by many youths. It's presented in a daring way, as if it were something that attract you.

Finally, the fact of mixing is what gives the name to this drink "Milk" + "Shake" (whatever its form), and from my point of view, it’s the rapid expansion of certain things that provokes their confusion with others (as this beverage with Frappe Coffee), while really, they're slightly different. What do you think?!

Hope you enjoyed! =)