In many homes it ends Christmas enjoying the King cake dipped in hot chocolate. But although we say goodbye to the Christmas sweets, it is difficult to say goodbye to the traditional chocolate to the cup, now that the coldest of the winter awaits us. Are not you very fond of the cocoa drink? You can try the eggnog or eggnog, another sweet drink associated with the holidays more comforting even when temperatures drop.
Most of us have known the “punch” through film and television that has come from the United States, especially with high school parties where there was always someone who added alcohol to the mix. Overall, it is a mixture of drinks with or without alcohol and usually fruit, but the eggnog has the distinction of being made with egg and milk. Its origin does not finish to clarify but there is something evident, has become a typical drink of winter and is already part of the traditions Christmas.
Origins and history of the punch of egg
It is difficult to clarify for sure the exact origins of recipes as popular as the one of the punch of egg. Elaborations of mixtures of different drinks are as old as humanity itself, and in many cases have evolved by region, customs and purchasing power of each society. Inevitale was that across Europe the tradition of preparing mulled wine to cope with the winter spread, and so today we have so many different versions of Glhwein German, different but very similar in essence.
Eggnog seems that dates back to early British Middle Ages, when it began to popularize the posset. Today a curd – like dessert, the posset was a drink made of milk cooked with various ingredients such as beer, wine, cereals or stale bread, and usually sweetened with sugar and spices. It was considered a remedy against colds and sore throats, although later they were creating more sophisticated versions for the upper classes.
Probably the monks added to the recipe egg and dried fruit such as figs, thus enriching the humblest version of a drink that became associated with toasts and celebrations. Mixing it with expensive liqueurs like Jerez became a traditional drink to share in specific festivities, acquiring a certain symbology of prosperity and good luck.
As with so many recipes and customs, the drink came to America through European immigrants. In the United States soon win over his audience and became a very popular drink, preparing with others easier to find and cheaper, like whiskey or rum liqueurs. Apparently, George Whasington himself was fond of this drink and used to offer it to his guests, and by the mid-nineteenth century, the punch was already associated with Christmas.
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Eggnog, Christmas and love-hate unleashing
Funny how the holidays get hold many traditions although many times we do not like too certain customs and products. Surely, you all hate some sweet or typical dish that does not lack in your house but in the bottom does not do you anything of grace; Because something similar happens with the egg punch in the United States.
Its aroma awake nostalgia in many American and manufacturers flood the stores with commercial versions of all kinds, but raises many passions and hatreds. It must be admitted that something strange sounds from the beginning, because its translation into our language does not inspire that Christmas atmosphere and endearing that is supposed to inspire the passionate of this drink. The current version is punch any punch, but the egg is eggnog , and yes, it sounds completely different.
Why it is not called, simply, eggpunch? It is also not clear the origin of the name , although historians shuffled several theories. A noggin was a kind of cup in which the British posset was served, but it could also be derived from nog, a name they received certain beers senior. Other theories point to a Americanism created from the name egg-n-grog common call -it was the rum grog, or the Scottish term nugg.
In any case, one of the first written references that mention the eggnog is the travel book of Isaac Weld entitled ‘Travels Through the States of North America and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, During the years 1795, 1796, and 1797’. In his work, Weld explains that American travelers follow the custom of taking energy taking egg-nog a mixture of milk, eggs, rum and sugar. There’s nothing like a good, consistent, sweet, alcohol-laden drink to withstand physical labor as temperatures drop.
What exactly is the egg punch?
We have seen countless times in film: eggnog is a somewhat thick creamy drink, white, ivory or pale yellow, and is usually served in cups or glasses standing under. The normal thing is to drink it very cold and often it is accompanied of mounted cream, caramel sticks and ground cinnamon, as if it were a hot chocolate or Viennese coffee. It has also become an ingredient in itself to prepare ice creams, cakes, cookies, shakes or even pancakes and candies. But what exactly does a traditional eggnog have?
Among the essential ingredients are the milk or light cream, raw eggs, sugar, alcohol and spices . As with this type of preparation, each family has its recipe, which can be more or less sweet, thick or with different spices. The type of alcohol used can also vary from rum or bourbon to sherry, brandy or cognac. Of course, there are also versions alcohol and today it is easy to find recipes for vegan or lactose.
Although many people are regaining the tradition of making their own homemade eggnog, there are so many brands today that many Americans do not bother to prepare it at home. It saves you the somewhat unpleasant step of using raw egg, but most commercial eggpots add thickeners, scents, and colorings, with little egg carton and adding much more sugar than you should. The alcohol content can vary by brand and recipes, but authorities warn that care tend to enjoy this drink because it’s easy to go without the consumer noticing you have.
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The punch of eggs in other countries
Of course, the egnogg is not the only drink there with egg, milk and alcohol. Although all had a probable common origin, today have established different varieties in many countries whose tradition and are an inseparable part. For example, eggnog is usually thick and more yellowish color, aroma of vanilla and a touch of almond, among other possibilities.
Similar to this drink is the advocaat, typical of the Netherlands and Belgium, a rather thick yellow liquor and can begin or brandy and even can be prepared with chocolate or coffee. In Germany and other countries like Switzerland or Austria coexists with mulled wine the Eierpunsch, very typical in the craft markets and home brewed as a Christmas present. This usually also wear white wine and many spices, sometimes orange or lemon scent.
Back in America, we find in Puerto Rico the coquito, very similar to these drinks but characterized by carrying milk or coconut cream and usually condensed milk, sometimes without eggs. In Chile, meanwhile, they enjoy at parties or monkey tail cola de mono, which is not prepared with egg but it is made from milk with coffee, aguardiente, spices and sugar. And very similar to eggnog is also the Venezuelan cream punch, based on eggs, milk, sugar and alcohol, which is usually rum. You can also find condensed milk and different aromas.
Clearly, eggnog, eggnog and various variations is a very caloric drink and that puts you in tune when cold pressed, despite not served hot. Formerly its energy and restorative power would be much more useful for daily life, but today it has remained as a whim associated in large part to the holiday season. It is not a bad idea to limit your consumption to these days to avoid further excesses, although it is certainly also appropriate to better cope with those winter storms that await us. Have you tried it? Do you think that would make a good match with the Three Kings Cake?
