Happy National Eggnog Day.
I love eggnog. And by eggnog, I mean the thick yellow drink that comes in a carton and tastes like dessert. I’ve never had homemade eggnog, and since I don’t drink alcohol, I probably should stick to store-bought.
The eggnog we drink today is for pleasure; its medieval predecessor was for both pleasure and preservation.
Posset was a popular drink in the middle ages; it’s even mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This eggy drink was often served at English weddings.
What makes posset different from eggnog is its layers. Here is a description from Smithsonian Magazine.
“Posset recipes varied widely, but they usually contained wine or beer, cream, sugar, and egg, and were thickened with bread, biscuits, oatmeal or almond paste, which formed the top layer.”
The posset was served in a two spouted pot so the liquid could be poured off before the top layer was eaten like dessert. The bread on top, along with the alcohol and sugar, would help preserve the drink, so the wedding party didn’t die from food poisoning.
I’ve often wondered how anyone survived the middle ages drinking things like posset. I’m glad we have pasteurization and eggnog in cartons. It tastes good and won’t kill anyone.
Merry Christmas.