Shabbat Gathering: What's guggle muggle?

Dear Chevrei, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

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Here we go.

You might think that I spend my days sifting through the Jewish internets looking for arcane and simply odd Jewish and Jewish adjacent things to send you every week. And you’d be right. Recently I came across something I had never ever heard of before: the Jewish background of guggle muggle, a home remedy for colds. First, like me, I imagine you’ve never heard of guggle muggle. Then, it might never have occurred to you that there’s a Jewish angle on guggle muggle. So, after reading this, you might have something to chit chat about at your next Jewish event. Jewish cocktail party conversation.

First, let’s get something straight: There’s absolutely no agreement whatsoever on how to spell guggle muggle. If you think the different spellings of Hanukah was confusing, you haven’t seen anything. guggle muggle is also spelled Gogul Mogul, gogl-mogl, gogol-mogol, gogel-mogel, kogel mogel, gurgle-murgle, and uggle-muggle. This is according to the Forward. But… the overdue question is, what the hell are you talking about?

Guggle muggle (that’s the spelling I’m going with) is a drink. More specifically, it’s a warm drink that suppose to alleviate the symptoms and causes of head colds. And, amazingly enough, its origins date back to the 16thC code of Jewish law called the Shulchan Arukh written in Spain by Rabbi Yosef Caro. It’s described as a drink with medicinal qualities that is kosher for Shabbat.

By now, you’re probably thinking, “But what the heck is it, Brian. Get to the point!”
Guggle muggle, probably predictably, has many different recipes. These are the standouts from my research in Kveller and the Forward:

- Milk, sugar, egg
- Milk, honey
- Milk, tea and schmaltz (rendered chicken fat)
- Milk, honey, vanilla extract

The recipe in the Forward comes complete with directions:
1 cup milk
1 raw egg yolk
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon brandy

Step 1. Heat the milk until is is warmed, not scorched

Step 2. Quickly whisk the egg yolk, sugar and brandy into the milk until it becomes foamy.

Step 3. Drink it.

If, G!d forbid, I get a head cold, I don't know if I'll be making myself a guggle muggle, especially the type that's made with chicken fat. But it's nice to know there's a Jewish remedy for almost everything.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Gut Shabbes!

All my love,
brian.

PS

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