Posset is a medieval British drink made with spiced milk, wine, ale, or citrus juice, and later with eggs and cream. It was popular at weddings and thought to cure minor ailments. Modern versions use heavy cream, lemons, and honey. Elaborate posset sets were given as gifts to the upper classes and royalty. Shakespeare mentioned posset in Macbeth.
A posset is a hot, spiced milk drink, cooked with wine, ale, or citrus juice, that originated in medieval Britain. The resulting drink had a thick consistency, similar to eggnog. Over time, the recipe for this hot drink included eggs and cream, creating an even thicker and more cushy texture. Chances were the drink of choice in wedding toasts throughout British society up until the 1800s and were thought to cure minor ailments. Elaborate posset sets were commonly given as gifts among those of the upper classes and royalty.
To make this drink in medieval times, the cook combined cream, a whole cinnamon stick, and several mace flakes in a pot. Egg yolks and egg whites were added to the pot in a ratio of about 2 to 1. The alcohol or citrus juice was then mixed together with sugar, nutmeg and ground cinnamon. Without stirring the pot, this mixture was brought to a boil. It was topped with a few dustings of sugar and served in a pot.
These possets had three distinct layers created as the various ingredients settled after serving. The foamy top layer was known as grace. The middle layer was spiced custard and the bottom layer was spiced alcohol or citrus juice. The foam and custard were eaten together in what was referred to as spoon meat, and the alcohol or juice was sipped through the pot’s spout or pipe.
A modern take on the posset includes heavy cream, lemons, and honey. The heavy cream and lemons are combined and brought to a gentle boil. The cream is then strained and boiled again when the honey is added. This mixture is then cooled slightly and poured into ramekin dishes. After it has completely cooled, the stencils are moved to the refrigerator until the batch is set.
Possible sets were given as gifts among those of the upper classes. A famous set, presented to Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain by the Spanish ambassador in honor of their forthcoming marriage, is on display at Hatfield House in England, north London. The set is made of crystal, gold, precious gems and enamel. A large stemmed bowl, a covered container, two stemmed glasses, three spoons and two forks make up the set.
Shakespeare mentioned a posset in Act II, Scene II of Macbeth. In this act, Shakespeare sees Lady Macbeth soliloquising about the poisoning of Duncan’s guards. She says, “I have drugged their possets that death and nature contend over them, whether they live or die.
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