You have probably never encountered a milkshake and Malt on one menu, and even if you do, we'd understand if you don't know the difference because we get confused too! But people from the '50s know them well. To help you identify the differences, you must know that Malt is a mixture of malted milk powder. But how does it taste and where did it come from? Let's get into the deets!
The milkshakes, in its most basic form, is a glass of blended ice cream and milk. Some recipes include other mix-ins, flavorings, fruits, and whatnot. A malt, however, is a special type of milkshake that incorporates an ingredient called malted milk powder.
Records show that the first time the word “milkshake” appeared was in 1885. At the time, it was marketed as a healthful and sturdy drink that resembled eggnog, except it had no whiskey. The egg-filled drink was served as a treat or tonic during those times. When the 1900s came, people saw milkshakes as a drink for all ages, one usually made with strawberries, vanilla syrup, or chocolate.
While milkshakes had been around for some time, they didn’t make it into mainstream society until 1922, thanks to Ivar “Pop” Coulson, a Walgreens employee in Chicago. He added two scoops of ice cream to malted milk and became the very first official milkshake seller. His recipe spread so far and so fast that it became an almost instant part of pop culture. Young adults would gather at malt shops in the 1930s, with the new drink becoming so popular it eventually eclipsed the old malt drink with its youthful flavors.
Malt is a sweet, toasty powder or syrup made from barley or other grains that have undergone the process of steeping, germinating, and drying.
Malted milk is a powder made from evaporated, malted whole milk and barley. To give you a sense of taste, one of the most famous flavors that remains in the supermarkets today is Ovaltine. The Carnation brand also offers a malt mix in plain and chocolate flavors. You can add the stuff to baked goods or ice cream to give that grainy-sweet malty taste. There are even online stores nowadays that will deliver old-fashioned malt to your door!
In grocery stores, malted milk powder is usually located with the powdered chocolate milk and other drink mixes. You can add malt to your favorite milkshake recipe and experience that ‘50s taste in every sip!