How Did Egg Nog Become Santa's Favorite Drink? - NC Egg Association (2024)

FAQs

How did eggnog become a Christmas drink? ›

Milk, eggs, and sherry were foods of the wealthy, so eggnog was often used in toasts to prosperity and good health. Eggnog became tied to the holidays when the drink hopped the pond in the 1700s. American colonies were full of farms—and chickens and cows—and cheaper rum, a soon-signature ingredient.

It is probably derived from “posset”—a concoction involving a combination of cream or milk, eggs, spices and ale or wine. Posset was believed to have medicinal properties: when King Charles I came down with a cold in the 1600s, his physician prescribed it.

Everyone knows that Santa's favorite way to wash down his plate of cookies is with a big glass of eggnog. This tradition has been around for decades, but have you ever asked yourself why? When did drinking this egg and milk concoction become a holiday tradition?

Typically, Santa likes anything that's rich and sweet. His favorite is classic Christmas eggnog — when he isn't driving…

Culinary historians have traced the origins of egg-nog to the medieval British punch called “posset,” warm milk curdled with alcohol such as wine or beer, flavored with spices. In medieval Europe, monks added their own twist by serving posset with figs and eggs.

Most plants keep producing eggnog through New Year's, and start dumping their unsold product in January. Although associated with the holidays, eggnog doesn't need to be seasonal. Dairy plants could produce small batches of eggnog off-season for hard-core nogheads, but they don't because it's not cost-effective.

Choose The Right Spirit

While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.

Eggnog isn't really drunk that much in Britain, but it is very popular in the United States.

The History of Eggnog

The custom of toasting to the new season with this festive co*cktail actually began during Britain's early medieval years, and the drink later became popular in the American colonies by the 19th century. However, per TIME, eggnog has been associated with Christmas since the 1700s.

Also known as Santa Claus Beer, Samichlaus boppelbock is brewed once a year on 6th December and then aged for 10 months before bottling.

What drink is left out for Santa? ›

English families leave Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas) a glass of sherry and a slice of mince pie to warm up on Christmas Eve.

UK: Sherry (or brandy or whisky)

Basically, something strong and warming, whether fortified wine or a single malt. But the tradition is sherry. Many families have their own traditions as well, and some even leave out a non-alcoholic snack, especially milk.

"While culinary historians debate its exact lineage, most agree eggnog originated from the early medieval" British drink called posset, which was made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavored with spices.

Eggs, milk, and alcohol were expensive in early Britain. Food historian Frederick Opie notes that the aristocracy used to drink their eggnog warm during the cold weather, and added spices and alcohol like brandy and sherry to preserve it. In the 1700s, rum from the Caribbean was the American eggnog alcohol of choice.

Chocolate Chip cookies

You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies. Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!

Strand says the specific taste of eggnog is wrapped up with memories of Christmas, thanks to flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla bean, which embody the winter season.

The American colonists soon shortened that to “eggnog,” a term that first appeared in a poem by Maryland minister Jonathan Boucher around 1774. George Washington was known to serve his own version to guests at Mount Vernon.

From classic favorites like eggnog and mulled wine to creative concoctions like spiked hot cocoa and horchata, there are endless possibilities.