Milkshakes 101: An Abridged History of America’s Favorite Drinkable Dessert
on Friday, August 25, 2017
Where were you when you had your first sip of a milkshake? Were you perhaps riding in the back seat of your parent’s car, or maybe sidled up to a soda counter? How clearly do you remember the sweet chill of the stiff cream as it rolled around on your tongue? How vivid is the memory of pinching your cheeks together in an effort to pull the thick, creamy slush through the wide plastic straw?
We remember ours like it was yesterday…
The funny thing about milkshakes is that initially, they were a decidedly adult beverage. The milkshake was developed in the mid-1880s and was billed as a health tonic and contained hard liquor, usually whiskey. Less than twenty years later it would be rebranded as a dessert of the “wholesome” variety, featured at the lips of smart teenagers and knock-around kids just the same.
Before the introduction of the modern blender, milkshakes were hand-shaken mixtures of sugary milk and ice or else they were rich and runny like eggnog. With the invention of the blender, milkshakes took on their modern manner — aerated and frothy. As the blender diversified so did the milkshake, eventually becoming commercially exclusive with the very specific milkshake mixers seen behind retro countertops nationwide.
Come relive the nostalgia of your very first milkshake at Frenzi. Visit our website today to see our milkshake menu.
Next time you visit historic Downtown Gresham, stop by Frenzi Frozen Yogurt and treat yourself! Check out our flavors and toppings to see our seasonal offerings and plan your next visit. Don’t forget to stop by every Wednesday for Waffle Bowl Wednesdays — buy one dessert and receive one waffle cone or waffle bowl free!
