Milkshake Facts

The milkshake, that quintessential comfort food, is popular throughout the United States, Canada, and Britain. But, how much do you know about this soothing, creamy concoction?

1. The first written reference to a milkshake was in a British newspaper in 1885. The recipe included a shot of whiskey. Now that's a milkshake!

2. Before he went in business with the McDonald's brothers, Ray Kroc sold machines that could make six milkshakes at one time. The brothers bought eight of them,which sparked Kroc's interest in their burger business.

3. A "Lassi" is a milkshake-like drink, popular in India. It's made with cold yogurt, crushed ice, rose water, mint, cumin, pistachios, cardamom, and fruit.

4. When the McDonald brothers opened their first drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California in the 1940s, a milkshake cost just 25 cents. My, how times have changed!

5. A Google search yields dozens of Web sites that claim a banana milkshake is an excellent cure for a hangover. Although it sounds a little weird, it might be worth a try.

6. "Milkshake" is the name of a popular kid's rock band, featuring Lisa Matthews and Mikel Gehl. The duo appears regularly on Noggin and has been featured on PBS.

7. According to the USDA, a standard 100g milkshake contains 3-9g of fat, 18-27g of carbohydrates, and 3.5g of protein.

8. Malt, the key ingredient in a malted milkshake, is a substance made from sprouting grain. It is a good course of carbohydrates and protein. Malt is also used in brewing beer and in yeast.

9. According to the Urban Dictionary, a slang use of the word "milkshake" refers to a woman's body and the way she carries it, as in "did you see that chick's milkshake?"

10. "Milkshake" is also a popular R&B song, released in 2004 and performed by the singer, Kelis. The song earned her a GRAMMY nomination.

11. According to the USDA, a standard 100g milkshake contains 13 percent of an adult's daily recommended amount of calcium. Now that's a tasty way to build strong bones.

12. A search on YouTube for "milkshake" yields over 2800 results, very few of which have anything to do with a food product. There is one yummy looking video recipe for a strawberry milkshake, however.

13. The drugstore chain, Walgreen's, claims to have invented the malted milkshake. The tasty treat was invented by Ivan "Pop" Coulson and featured at their soda fountain counters, beginning in 1922.

14. In addition to the traditional vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, the top 10 milkshake recipes, according to Food and Wine magazine, include a purple cow (made with grape juice), chunky monkey (banana and chocolate chips), cherry vanilla, and chocolate peanut butter.