It turns out that humans have not been able to enjoy eggnog for as long as previously thought. A group of scientists have shown when we first developed lactose tolerance by testing plaque on ancient teeth.
Tis the season for eggnog. That interesting mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, and nutmeg that is beaten into a frothy drink for the holiday season. Most of us take dairy products like this for granted, and eat or drink them on a daily basis. However, a group of scientists from University College of London and the U. of Oklahoma have recently been looking into just how long milk has been on the menu for humans. To gather their results they have been examining the remains of plaque on ancient teeth, looking for specific enzymes that indicate if the people tested could digest lactose.
Lactose tolerance is a fairly modern mutation for humans. It used to be that infants created an enzyme that allowed them to digest milk, but as they grew older they stopped producing this enzyme. People who are lactose intolerant still follow this pattern. However, sometime close to 5,000 years ago a mutation sprang up in the humans DNA pool that allowed people to continue producing the lactase enzyme into adulthood, and thus enjoy eggnog during the holiday season.
The researchers think that the gene arose somewhere in Europe, East Africa, or the Arabian Peninsula, but for the purposes of this study they focused on Greenland’s Norse population. Since the medieval Norse population was not particularly fond of dental care, the researchers were able to mine the plaque off their teeth to get a peek at what they ate. The plaque showed that although humans have lived with domesticated cows, goats, and sheep, it was not until around 5,000 years ago that they developed the ability to use these animals for milk as well as meat.
I, for one, have been happily consuming eggnog this holiday season. I have tried out a few different recipes, and the one I liked the most is as follows: Take six eggs and separate the yolks and whites. Put the whites in the refrigerator. Then take the yolks and mix them with 1 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt. After the sugar dissolves, mix 3 cups of milk and 2 cups of heavy cream into the yolk, sugar, and salt. Next, put the mixture in the refrigerator, but do not combine it with the egg whites yet. After about 2 hours, take the egg whites out of the fridge and beat them until they become frothy and stiff. Then fold the chilled milk, sugar, and egg yolks into the egg whites. If you want to make it look professional you can grate some cinnamon or nutmeg over the glasses just before you serve them. For an additional kick add a little rum. It really is delicious, and I hope that everyone gets to experience some yummy eggnog this holiday season.
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