A warm breakfast setting with grilled tortilla, milk bottle, and cutlery on a rustic table.

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What Is a Posset and Why Did Everyone Drink It?

Before Lemsip and NyQuil, there was posset.

If you were cold, sick, or just fancy in 1605, someone would hand you a steaming posset and say, “Drink this, it’ll do you good.” And honestly? It probably did.

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So What Exactly Is a Posset?

A posset was a hot British drink made by curdling milk or cream with wine, ale, or citrus juice.

You’d heat the dairy with spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg, then add booze or lemon juice until it curdled slightly—kind of like hot, boozy yogurt, but richer and smoother. Some versions even had egg for thickness.

It sounds weird. It was weird. But it was also loved for centuries.

Colonial Posset: The Rich & Creamy Historical Drink

Why Was Everyone Sipping This Stuff?

A few reasons:

  • It was medicine (sort of): People drank it to cure fevers, colds, stomach bugs—anything that felt off. Even royalty like Charles I got a dose.
  • It was warm and comforting: No central heating? No problem. You had a posset.
  • It was high-calorie fuel: Between the cream, sugar, and alcohol, it filled you up and knocked you out. Great for winter.
  • It was classy: In Tudor times, posset wasn’t just for sickbeds. It showed up at weddings, banquets, and noble toasts. Served in fancy two-spouted “posset pots,” it was kind of the latte art of the 1600s.

Not Just a Drink—A Full Experience

Posset had layers. Literally:

  • A foamy top (called “the grace”)
  • A rich custardy middle
  • A boozy, spiced bottom

You sipped from the bottom through the spout, or used a spoon if things got serious. This wasn’t just a quick drink—it was a ritual.

From Mug to Dessert Bowl

Eventually, the hot drink faded out, and the cold dessert moved in.

Modern lemon posset is made with cream, sugar, and lemon juice. No curdling from heat—just a chilled, silky citrus pudding. Same name, totally different texture.

And yes, it’s still delicious.

So Why Did Everyone Drink Posset?

Because it was warming, healing (or at least people thought so), and genuinely comforting. It started as medieval medicine and ended as a refined treat.

One part history, one part hospitality, one part hangover cure. Not bad for curdled milk.