RCIR 2013 Menu 4 Unboxing

[Rationista]

Very excited yesterday when my package of RCIR and MRE arrived from Surplus and Outdoors. The RCIR has changed a tiny bit since I last ordered some so I thought I'd do a little unboxing sequence for my first 'proper contribution' to these forums.

First change is that the French have now added the words REVENTE INTERDITE NO RESALE to the box. This is printed on the meal produced in late 2013 but not on the one produced in 2012. Doesn't seem to have had the desired effect!

Box

I also noticed that an energy bar has appeared on the list of contents. I've never seen this on an RCIR before but perhaps French Master knows more about this?

So...open the box....

Open Box

First thing is the new breakfast cereal on the top....up till now I've only seen the Muesli aux Fraises (Strawberry Muesli) and the commercial one with the mixed tropical fruit in the yellow/orange pack. Strawberry, Raspberry and Fig...mmmm.

So...what else is inside...

Cereal and Jam

Plum Jam...Andros make excellent fruit products and this is available commercially in France. Going to be very nice I hope. A close up of that funky muesli packet.

Next...it's that Commando Energy Bar...coffee flavour. Maybe a new item in response to feedback from their guys? The isotonic drink is a staple...but it's a new flavour...usually it's agrumes (citrus) or thé peche (peach iced tea), both of which are very good. Interested to see how the mint tastes.

Energy Bar and Isotonic Drink Mix

Leek and Potato Soup (thank heavens it's not the Potage Potiron...Pumpkin Soup...which really is revolting!). Not tried the Leek and Potato yet so something to look forward to! Biscuits de Campagne...but in a different package to the yellow one that I have seen before. This pack is more brown and in this one the sweet biscuits are wholegrain cereal rather than chocolate. Again...I don't know if this is a change or just something that I just haven't seen before. There sure are a lot of biscuits in this ration: 8 salted and 8 sweet, packed in packs of 2.

Soup and Biscuits

A starter of chicken pate, made by Henaff. Again a popular brand commercially available (in different packaging) in France. Desert is a Vanilla Pudding....a creamy milky concoction made with semolina. Oops...no picture....to follow!


The main dishes, Beef Lasagne and Kebab Meatballs. I've had the Lasagne lots of times and it is delicious....looking forward to trying the Meatballs which are a new line.

Main Dishes

Snacks. These are always the same in the RCIR although the flavours differ. A pate de fruits (fruit jelly candy), a bar of very high quality dark chocolate, a small pack of caramels and a bar of nougat. All very popular sweets/candy in France.

Snacks

Ensemble Petit-déjeuner....literally breakfast set....the brew kit!

Brew or Breakfast Kit?

Open Brew Kit

And opened out....2 instant coffee, 2 mint tea (in all the RCIR I've had I've only ever seen one teabag that wasn't mint!), 2 sugar sachets, 2 salt/pepper and a cocoa. No creamer interestingly enough....although it must have been included at some stage as the French Army website mentions it on this very informative, but sadly out of date, page.

http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/equipe ... ation/rcir

Evidently real French Men drink their coffee black! But seriously, this seems to reflect general french taste as coffee is served black unless you specifically ask for milk. If you just order café it will come with sugar on the side but no milk or cream.

So that's what is in the box....food for one soldier for one day. Now to get eating it! Hope this was interesting....really looking forward to eating some of my goodies and getting a review up next. Thanks for reading!

[housil]

Thx for sharing the pictures with us.
I´m surprised they discontinued the creamer. How should they have now their café-au-lait in the morning?!

[rationtin440]

Great review and pics, Rationista! A few observations: the French armed forces seem to follow the tradition of the UK in that they appear to provide more snacks and drink mixes than are found in the American MREs. Secondly what you mentioned about the no resale, which I assume means re-selling prohibited; it may be that the French armed forces have adopted a similar policy as the U.S.---basically a soldier in uniform is prohibited to take a few cases of rations from the supply room and sell them in an ally outside near the main gate of his base/armory to civilians, although anyone foolish enough to do that while in uniform, well And finally, pumpkin soup in and of itself has been, in my experience, the following: it is definately an aquired taste, but it mainly takes on the taste of whatever you add to spice/doctor it up, I have found it to be almost tasteless by itself, not even as good as cream of wheat or Maypo!

[dirtbag]

Nice review!
Someday, I'm going to get to try a RCIR...

Someday...


Pumpkin soup with a little Nutmeg and Cinnamon and a dash of cream is quite nice!

[Rationista]

Thank you guys...been reading all your stuff for a long time and learned loads about the whole world of rations out there.

I tried the RCIR coffee black yesterday morning...it was nice....but as Housil says...should really be a big bowl of cafe au lait in the morning! As to the pumpkin soup....I''ll try some of your seasoning suggestions next time I encounter it!