I’m curious about everything, even subjects that don’t interest me.
Alex Trebek
Several years ago, my friend, Bob, invited me (and a few hundred of his closest friends) to a daily trivia question “contest.” To this day, each morning, he sends a carefully selected question to us via email. I look forward to the electronic missive almost like opening a Christmas present. I delight in how he sprinkles his sardonic wit over the questions (and answers) like he’s Alex Trebek. I ruminate over the question longer than the proverbial button allows. It’s the one thing that gets my mind moving in the morning and puts a smile on my face—especially when I know the answer. Bob: I’ll take “I Love Lucy” for $500, please.
Today, January 4th is National Trivia Day 2021! It’s a great excuse to broaden our horizons and learn some brain-teasing, mouth-watering, lip-smacking, tummy-tickling facts—Eat. Drink. Work. Play style!
There are many ways to celebrate this auspicious occasion. For instance, you could dust off your 1980’s game of Trivial Pursuit stored away in your closet. Or you could match your wits and brain cells digitally with Sporcle or some of the other Online Quizzes out there.
Whatever your favorite trivia topics may be, have some fun today. After all, it’s one of the few days when it’s okay to start a conversation with: “Did you know…?” While no one likes a “smarty pants,” some of these trivia questions—and answers—are sure to bring a chuckle to anyone’s day.
History proves that we all love a little trivia! One of the first game shows was “Information Please” in the late 1930’s in which questions would be sent in by the listening audience and the winning question would be the one that stumped the panel of voracious readers and literary figures. So, whether trivia makes you realize you need more information in your life, or you want to sound smarter on your Zoom social calls, here are some fun facts about eating, drinking, working and playing we thought you’d enjoy!
The last shows of Jeopardy with Alex Trebek will start airing tonight through January 8. I’ll be watching. Will you?
And Bob . . . . Thank you for sharing your daily trivia emails with us. They truly do brighten our days. Here’s to you!
Happy National Trivia Day 2021!
[Scroll down to the bottom for the answers and fun facts.]
Eating Trivia
1. What nuts are used to make marzipan?
2. Which country consumes the most chocolate per capita?
3. Which food has the highest water content?
4. Which is the only U.S. state capital to NOT have a McDonald’s?
5. What is the only edible food that never goes bad?
6. What does a Scoville unit measure?
7. Where is the ice cream capital of the world?
8. What is allspice alternatively known as?
Drinking Trivia
9. Which country produces the most coffee in the world?
10. What state in the union consumes the most beer per year?
11. Scotch whisky is divided into what five distinct categories?
12. What was the drink made famous in the movie “Casablanca?”
13. What is Japanese Sake made from?
14. What U.S. President was once a bartender?
Working Trivia
15. When thinking, what percentage of our brains do we use?
16. In what country was paper invented?
17. How many minutes a day does a worker look for lost files and items?
18. How many miles do a typist’s fingers travel in one day?
19. On what day was the technology company, Apple, created?
Playing Trivia
20. What was the first toy advertised on TV?
21. Power outages in the U.S. are mostly caused by what?
22. What planets rain diamonds?
23. A flamboyance is a group of what animals?
24. In ancient Greece, throwing an apple at someone was a declaration of what?
25. What letter does not appear in any U.S. state name?
Who knows, maybe National Trivia Day 2021 will start a new habit in your life. There’s nothing wrong with sharing a generally unknown fact with family, friends, and coworkers — especially if it brightens their day!
“Answers Revealed”
Eating Trivia
1. What nuts are used to make marzipan? Almonds.
Did you know Norwegians eat 45 million marzipan candies each year? And marzipan pigs are their classic Christmas confection?
2. Which country consumes the most chocolate per capita? Switzerland.
This should be my zip code, for sure!
3. Which food has the highest water content. Cucumber
And I thought the best thing about cucumbers was putting slices of them over my eyes at the Spa. Cool as a cucumber, I am!
4. Which is the only U.S. state capital to NOT have a McDonald’s? Montpelier, VT
Montpelier also has the smallest population of any state capital with just 7,500 residents.
5. What is the only edible food that never goes bad? Honey
Honey’s longevity can be explained by its chemical makeup: The substance is naturally acidic and low in moisture, making it an inhospitable environment for bacteria.
6. What does a Scoville unit measure? Spiciness.
Bonus points for knowing which pepper is the hottest! The Carolina Reaper comes in first, with a rating of up to 2,200,000 Scoville heat units.
7. Where is the ice cream capital of the world? Le Mars, Iowa
Le Mars was designated Ice Cream Capital of the World in 1994. According to Le Mars’ website, it has been the home to Wells Enterprises Inc., makers of Blue Bunny ice cream since 1913. Blue Bunny was founded by Fred H. Wells, Jr., and the ice cream company now makes more ice cream in one location than any other single company in the world.
[EDWP celebrated National Creative Ice Cream Day with this carrot cake ice cream recipe.]
8. What is allspice alternatively known as? Pimento.
Though likely not the “pimento” that springs first in your mind. The Pimentos sticking out of our olives and Allspice actually come from different parts of different plants. Confusing much? Google it!
Drinking Trivia
9. Which country produces the most coffee in the world? Brazil.
To satisfy that coffee urge, try some of these coffee shop treats at home.
10. What state in the union consumes the most beer per year? New Hampshire
New Hampshire is also the only state in the union not to require the wearing of seat belts. Not a good combination in my book.
11. Scotch whisky is divided into what five distinct categories? Single malt Scotch, single grain Scotch, blended malt Scotch, blended grain Scotch, and blended Scotch whisky.
Joke: “An old woman drinks whisky for the first time. She thinks for a while and then says: ‘Strange, the stuff tastes exactly like the medicine my late husband had to take for twenty years.’”
12. What was the drink made famous in the movie “Casablanca?” French 75
German soldiers order this champagne cocktail moments before Rick’s gin joint gets shut down for gambling. The drink is named after the famous WWI French 75-milimeter M1897 gun.
Here’s a recipe for a classic French 75.
13. What is Japanese Sake made from? Rice.
There are only four ingredients in sake: rice, water, mold and yeast.
Fast fact: Sake is fermented not distilled; it is not a hard liquor.
14. What U.S. President was once a bartender? Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s liquor license was discovered in 1930 and displayed in a Springfriend liquor store.
Working Trivia
15. When thinking, what percentage of our brains do we use? 35%.
Strangely enough, even though we don’t use 100% of our brain, we still need to give it rest in order for it to function properly.
16. In what country was paper invented? China.
You don’t want to hear my “tear-able” joke about paper.
17. How many minutes a day does a worker look for lost files and items? 50 minutes.
That’s motivation to revamp your home office, huh?
18. How many miles do a typist’s fingers travel in one day? 12.6.
Too bad our Fitbits can’t count these steps!
19. On what day was the technology company, Apple, started? April 1, 1976.
Apple is now a $2 trillion dollar company. Now, that’s no joke!
Playing Trivia
20. What was the first toy advertised on TV? Mr. Potato Head.
Did you know Mr. Potato Head’s sales increased 800% after the first Toy Story movie release?
21. Power outages in the U.S. are mostly caused by what? Squirrels.
In 2015, these fluffy-tailed villains caused the State of Montana $11 million from blackouts.
22. What planets rain diamonds? Uranus and Neptune.
Okay, I’m moving.
23. A flamboyance is a group of what animals? Flamingos.
Did you know that the oldest Flamingo in captivity lived to be 83 years old?
24. In ancient Greece, throwing an apple at someone was a declaration of what? Love.
That’s one way to show the “apple of your eye” that you care!
25. What letter does not appear in any U.S. state name? Q
Quite a quandary that “Q” must remain so quiet.
Stacy Kopper
January 4, 2021Pimento is another name for allspice? Who knew?
BRH
January 4, 2021I too am a member of Bob’s daily trivia game. Love it!
Sabine
January 4, 2021Loved the different categories of trivia. I thought I don’t even get 80% correct. Lol
Appreciated the answers, now I can say I learned so many new things today!
Thank you Luanna!
Luanna
January 4, 2021Thank you, Sabine!
Kin P.
January 4, 2021You’re going to get me hooked on trivia. Need more!