# Shamrock Shakes(tm)...What flavor are they supposed to be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457 "2003-03-23T00:41:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![martin\_ibn\_martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@martin\_ibn\_martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martin_ibn_martin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/1 "2003-03-23T00:41:53Z")
I get lime and mint in about equal measure. It was described to me by a McDonald’s employee as a “Sorta lime, sorta mint, kinda thing.” [Top Secret Recipes](http://www.ivillage.com/food/recipefinder/recipe/0,,425752,00.html) claims that it is fully mint. I’m not buyin’ it. Anyone else here get the lime taste as well. Martin Mods: Feel free to move this to MPSIMS if it is out of place here. ---
**Author:** ![Kewk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@Kewk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kewk)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/2 "2003-03-23T01:46:24Z")
Tastes Mint to me \ ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/3 "2003-03-23T01:53:42Z")
Leprecaun with just a hint of molasses. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/4 "2003-03-23T01:53:48Z")
Actually, since this deals with an alleged foodstuff, I’d think it should be in Cafe Society. As to the flavor, it’s a long time since I’ve had one,and I can’t remember what they’re flavored like, but they SHOULD be flavored like shamrocks, IMHO. Or at least something high in chlorophyll, like parsley. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/5 "2003-03-23T01:54:31Z")
Doesn’t taste at all like Mint. I don’t know what McDonald’s did to the formula, but they need to bring back the flavor from years ago. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/6 "2003-03-23T04:36:02Z")
The old Shamrock Shakes were vanilla, plain, simple, old-fashioned vanilla. All they did was add a lot of green dye to their vanilla shakes. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/8 "2018-01-29T15:34:01Z")
I had one once a few years ago - nothing but mint taste to me. Edit: dang it, didn’t check the date! Or look at the link. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/9 "2018-01-29T15:37:50Z")
> [@Mark\_Truby](#): > > As for me it tastes like lime. There shakes are nice, but too sweet. As you know sugar may be harmful for you health and think the same. Probable spam reported (and removed from quote). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/10 "2018-01-29T16:04:30Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The old Shamrock Shakes were vanilla, plain, simple, old-fashioned vanilla. All they did was add a lot of green dye to their vanilla shakes. I remember this from my childhood, because we used to get them when I was a kid and add mint flavoring to them, because we thought that was how they ought to taste. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/11 "2018-01-29T16:29:25Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Probable spam reported (and removed from quote). The spammer has been wished away to the cornfield. I’ll leave this in place so that anyone wondering why this zombie thread was revived will not be confused. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/12 "2018-01-29T16:46:18Z")
[This article](https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/3/15/14922828/shamrock-shakes-explained)has the story: > [@](#): > > . . .At least one account says the original recipe contained lemon-lime sherbet; the formula was changed in 1973 to be just vanilla with food coloring. Not until 1983 did the shake become the mildly minty confection we know today. > > The nutritional information listed on the McDonald’s website reveals that it’s a vanilla shake flavored with “shamrock syrup,” which itself gets its signature taste from the somewhat ominous-sounding “Natural Flavor (Plant Source)”; one would assume said plant source is mint. > > This year, McDonald’s also introduced four varieties of chocolate Shamrock shake, including a Shamrock chocolate-chip frappe, a Shamrock hot chocolate, and a Shamrock mocha — plus a special straw specifically designed for the shakes. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/13 "2018-01-29T16:59:02Z")
Will the straw have fake stones attached to it? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/14 "2018-01-29T19:36:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Will the straw have fake stones attached to it? Do you have a room around here to go to? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/15 "2018-01-29T23:41:39Z")
\*\* Shamrock Shakes™…What flavor are they supposed to be? \*\* A cross between Colgate and Crest. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/16 "2018-01-30T00:48:58Z")
A relevant take: [http://www.rhjunior.com/goblin-hollow-0397/](http://www.rhjunior.com/goblin-hollow-0397/) ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/17 "2018-01-31T17:57:00Z")
IIRC there are (were?) two different ways of producing Shamrock Shakes. Some outlets had a pre-mixed liquid and some used vanilla base but added green-colored flavoring in the machine. The two varieties did not taste exactly the same. I don’t know if there’s anything that would reasonably explain it but I 100% noticed a strange lime-esque flavor in the last Shamrock Shake I had-- probably 5 or 6 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/18 "2018-02-01T12:28:25Z")
Just a super disgusting flashback. Around 1971, my little brother was in the bathroom, and we heard a blood cuddling scream. The whole family ran to him, and he was sobbing because his poop, floating in the toilet, was bright green. Yes, he’d gone to McDonald’s and had a shamrock shake the day before! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shamrock-shakes-tm-what-flavor-are-they-supposed-to-be/163457/19 "2018-02-01T12:45:46Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > \*\* Shamrock Shakes™…What flavor are they supposed to be? \*\* > > A cross between Colgate and Crest. > mmm I tried one once just to see if I could get a mint shake nearby since the place I like is a bit out of the way for me. I drank about half of it but couldn’t stop think ‘this tastes like toothpaste’.