Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It’s that annual national holiday that we’ve been celebrating for the past few hundred years in the United States (and Canada, to some extent) where we get together with our family and friends to give thanks for the blessings in our lives.
Personally, I would say it’s my favorite holiday – right after Christmas, of course. I also feel that it’s the holiday that really kicks off the holiday season for me – that being Thanksgiving through Christmas and into New Years.
Ever since I can remember, there have been a few things that have been consistent with most of these holidays, and that’s been cooler weather, time off from either work or school, watching a bunch of holiday movies and lots of desserts!
And as I’ve mentioned in my last blog, with dessert comes coffee!
Does coffee go well with Thanksgiving?
Now I can’t account for the first Thanksgiving, and whether coffee was served between the pilgrims and natives, or any previous years in this country’s history. But in my lifetime, coffee has been a consistent item on the menu. If you think about it, isn’t it safe to assume that if you have adults sitting around, either before, during or after the meal, that there’s going to be some form of hot tea or coffee being brewed and served?
This has always been the case in my family. Especially after the meal is over. We’ve all been there – when dishes are being collected, you still have a few adults and relatives sitting at the table, running their mouths, enjoying the conversation. Then there’s the other crowds, usually males, trying to catch the Thanksgiving day football games on television.
There’s the crowd that’s stuck somewhere between being awake and sleepy – they’re either dozing off and trying to stay away, or trying to be the first person to grab the laz-y boy chair to fall asleep in.
And then there’s the adults who are trying to clear off the table to make way for the many desserts being served, with extra saucers, napkins, and of course – COFFEE!
Benefits of Coffee on Thanksgiving
I personally feel that having coffee on Thanksgiving is a good thing – for everyone involved. My earliest memories of Thanksgiving have always started on the prior Wednesday. That’s when my mother always started here early cooking, including letting the turkey season overnight so she could get up early Thanksgiving morning and stick it in the oven. With the need to stay alert and focused, she always had a pot of coffee on, with a mug of coffee nearby.
Another tradition that I’ve experienced is the timing of the dinner. I know some families eat early in the day. 12, 1, or 2 PM. Others have their dinners late in the afternoon or early evenings. Either way you look at it, the aroma from the kitchen and anticipation of waiting usually stirs up your appetite even more!
This is where coffee comes into play. On many occasions, I had a cup of coffee and perhaps a tiny piece of chocolate with it to help curb my appetite. And the temptation to grab a snack while waiting for dinner is high on a day like Thanksgiving!
Finally, – there’s the energy that you’ll need to make it through the day. Not only is it a day off from school or work, but chances are that you’ll have relatives, family and friends possibly joining you for dinner later on. Having a good cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning for breakfast or right before noon is a good way to keep you from drowsing off during the rest of the day while eating and enjoying your family and friends.
What type of coffee would go with Thanksgiving?
This particular question has me thinking about all the different flavors and ingredients that have been associated with different recipes for this time of year. Since it’s fall and the weather outside is brisk and cool, with a chill in the air and falling leaves on the ground, I’m thinking about everything that’s associated with the season. Like Pumpkins – which start showing up right before October and Halloween and leading into Thanksgiving. Gingerbread is another flavor that comes to my mind, later on leading into Christmas and New Years.
It only makes sense to have Pumpkin pie as one of the staple recipes around the holidays, and even gingerbread cookies. But perhaps the best examples that I can think of would be at your local coffee house or cafe, where you start to notice the different flavored drinks that begin to show up with the change in season too.
You’ll find different flavors from Pumpkin spice, Gingerbread, and even a thanksgiving blend – particularly at your local Starbucks. Now I understand there are different flavors or beans that may be better with what you’re serving for Thanksgiving dinner, depending on both your taste buds and the dish. Personally, I found Colombian coffee to be a good flavor to go with any type of ham, turkey, dressing (Or stuffing, depending on which term you use) as these foods tend to have a dryer texture to them. (That is, assuming you’re not using gravy on the side) Colombian coffee can provide a nice smoothness to your dish if you plan on having coffee with your main meal.
Conclusion
Overall, I discovered that you can’t really go wrong with coffee during the Thanksgiving holiday. Even if you can’t splurge or find any of these holiday flavors in time to go with your dinner, coffee can still help to compliment your long day with family and friends. Not only will it provide the energy that you need to keep up and alert to enjoy the day, family and your friends, but you’ll definitely appreciate it afterwards to help stave off that drowsiness that usually occurs after dinner, in case you plan on continuing your Thanksgiving day gathering.
