Milkshakes! The Cold, Delicious Facts

When you go out with friends to eat, it's nice to have a good conversation. Nothing makes for a better conversation than useless, trivial knowledge. So next time you go out for some fast food, order a milkshake and give your friends a lesson about your tasty drink.

Milkshakes were first referred to in print in 1885, and at that time they were made with a whisky. (Really!) In the early 1900s, milkshakes were made as an eggnog style drink for invalids and children.

There is no way of knowing who invented the milkshake, or where it was invented. Today, if you ordered a milkshake in the United Kingdom, you would get a tasty treat made with milk and flavoring... and you would probably eat it with a spoon.

This style of milkshake may be very similar to the Frosty offered at Wendy's. In much of the United States and Canada, milk shakes are made with milk, flavoring, and ice cream. If you wanted the same in the United Kingdom, you would have to ask for a 'thick shake'.

When you think of a milkshake, you typically think of your basic Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, and 'Special Flavor' offered at your favorite fast food place. Although these are the most common flavors you find, there are places that offer more complex flavors.

In Australia the most common flavors are Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Caramel, Banana, Lime, and Koala Bear. (Okay, so I'm lying about the Koala Bear. The rest is true.) Wishing for more of a variety here in the United States?

Pizza Wings Steaks & Things (a small restaurant located in Hamilton, NJ) is almost famous for their wide variety of milkshake flavors. They offer Black Forest Cheesecake, Chocolate Root Beer, Bubblegum Grape, Chocolate Cherry Coke, and Banana Marshmallow just to list a few. Sound good?

Another restaurant, located in several states, offers milkshake flavors such as Peanut Butter & Jelly, S'mores, and Kiwi & Pineapple. Sound like these milkshake flavors are getting weirder?