Will You Shamrock Shake It?

It has 670 calories, 20 grams of fat and a whooping 107 grams of carbs, but who cares?

Yes, we’re talking about the Shamrock Shake–and it has returned to McDonald’s for a limited run. Lucky us!

First launched in 1970 as a week-long promotion to help raise money for a "home away from home" project for families of children being treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Shamrock Shake helped raise enough money to buy the first Ronald McDonald House—a seven-bedroom home near the hospital.

Since then, more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses have opened, and the shake has developed a cult-like following, with some fans going so far as to create a website to help Shamrock Shake lovers find the treat.

Others have created Facebook fan pages dedicated to the shake, including one that has more than 43,000 "likes" so far.

So what’s in the spring-green drink that people are obsessing over?

According to the McDonald’s website, it’s a combination of reduced-fat vanilla ice cream, mint-flavored Shamrock Shake syrup, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. 

Locally, you can pick up your shakes at McDonald's at 825 Beaver Grade Road in Moon, at 100 Robinson Center; 250 Summit Park Drive in Robinson; 1010 Fourth Ave., Coraopolis; or 4557 Ohio River Boulevard in Bellevue.

Perhaps because it’s available for only a month, our Facebook feeds have been clogged with photos of friends enjoying their Shamrock Shakes—and we are fascinated by that!

We want to know, have you rushed out to get your shake yet? Or do you avoid the whole green drink thing? What makes the mint-flavored concoction so good—or bad? Admit it, did you take a photo of your Shamrock Shake and post it online?

Tell us in the comment section below.

Macomb Patch contributed to this article.

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