Army Tea

[Bushman5]

This is directions for Army tea, as told to me by a WW1 Veteran (Canadian Army) when i was a kid. They made this in the trenches, and often this was all they had for sustenance, except for a bit of bacon grease (often rancid) and moldy bread pieces. Often they would not have sugar, which the lack of makes the tea pure hell and nastiness......

Its strong enough to dye wood with, strong enough to make you mad and want to kill, strong enough to erase ANY pangs of hunger you might have, and trust me it keeps you going. Makes yer teeth look British. Its full of tannic acids

(for several cups) :
take a large Billy can and fill with up with water (1.5 liters) . Add 1/2 cup loose tea leaves (earl grey or orange peko or PX issue). Add 1 cup sugar. Boil, stir, boil, stir, boil, stir for abotu 30 minutes. Let it steam off. Add 3/4 cup bacon fat or stick of butter. Stir well , dissolve and let boil slightly. Stir and pour into canteen cups. Drink.

Most times i omit the butter or bacon fat but a bunch of times i have added them in and its actually quite tasty.

 

[batosai117]

Sounds interesting, I believe the fellow on "alone in the wild" could have used that since he complained about hunger and that was his reason to leave early As for adding in the bacon fat and/or butter ......na ah, not doing it

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I believe the Tibetans also add a butter product to their tea. Also probably as nutrition in their cold climate.

 

[markv]

this would be a good point in this thread for you guys to google tea culture.

E.B. is correct.
actually it is good , especially when you are very hungry and dehydrated.

the Indians of the sub continent drink this brew every day.

all good
buzz

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Good stuff! May try it sometime. Isn't bacon the perfect additive to any dish?

I recall reading about military folk in the US doing the same thing, but with super strong, boiled down coffee instead. :thumbup:

 

[Marcelo Cantu]

I believe the Tibetans also add a butter product to their tea. Also probably as nutrition in their cold climate.

Yak butter tea! with salt.:barf:

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I'm all set without butter or sugar in my tea. Properly brewed tea should be quite delicious and delicate without any additives. Off to have some Lapsang Souchong now.

 

[jca21]

I'm all set without butter or sugar in my tea. Properly brewed tea should be quite delicious and delicate without any additives. Off to have some Lapsang Souchong now.

do you go to "yum cha" often..?


i dont think i'd ever drink tea with butter in it but it does make alot of sense. fats important, especially in colder climates or in times of high exertion of energy such as those men faced in the trenches. they also probably didnt have enough food to go around so it helps curb the hunger.


personally, i'd rather chew on a few sprigs of deer fern to keep the ol' hunger away. kinda hard to make butter in the woods

 

[kgd]

Why can't all them military panzies just drink their tea black? Sugar and bacon.....You save those ingredients for courting.....

Edit - I did forgot to put smiles in the above sentence

 

[Esav Benyamin]

My Russian grandfather used to drink tea steeped till it was black.
We put lemon in it instead of milk.

 

[Harayasu]

Here in the northern part of the Netherlands people it is a tradition to drink a very black tea and put rock sugar and cream in it. Too sweet for me, I prefer to drink my tea black.

 

[luckykitty]

Here in the northern part of the Netherlands people it is a tradition to drink a very black tea and put rock sugar and cream in it. Too sweet for me, I prefer to drink my tea black.

Friesentee - my grandma is from up north as well.
Thick strong tea made from Assam or Assam-Ceylon blends, and you put a largish piece of rock sugar in it (when the tea is hot enough you hear the sugar crackle) and carefully pour cream on top. The fatty cream layer adds not only taste but also insulation - and the last sips from a cup are sweetest as you do not stir (you may stir a little befor pouring on the cream layer, but not afterwards)