Taste test, questions to Older rations.

[Nawt]

Hi there.

I cleaned up the house this week and found some older rations on the shed and in the basement.
A Dutch "gevechtrantsoen" ration from 1978
german EPA type I, from 1984
and 3 boxes British 24H ration GP menues B from 1997.

Apparently the FIFO system (first in first out) didn't work. But whatever. They are nice for collection purposes.
I dared to try a British ration that was only ten yrs old. I have to admit that I was not really keen on trying ten year old foor but since no MREinfo member has gone missing yet or was found sick next to an old MRE I figured: eat it.

Well it tasted great! as if they were from last year. The cereal, Beef stew (only four dumplings, unlucky me), hash, bisquits etc. It lasted only 12hrs i.s.o. 24.
The most surprising thing was the tea however. It sead 'white tea' but looked like coffee and for taste it was close to being chocolatedrink.
Looked kind of gross with little white flocks emerging from the bottom of my cup.

My question is: "Was the English tea supposed to be/look/taste that way?"

PS, I'm not gonna try the 1978 and 1984 rations. Sorry guys for not sharing that experience and information with you Hoping that it will prevent me from getting the 'runs' or something.

[norge]

hello Nawt!
the tea have always tasted and looked like
that,but i find it good have been drinking it
for about 5 years now.
tip when making it: add the tea in a mug
add boiling hot water and stir real good
and sugar if wanted extreme good on a
cold day in north of norway
btw! how does the 78 dutch ration
look and whats in it?
taste test greetings from norge

[Nawt]

To norge and all other members

Contents:
1 beverage user guide;
1 pack tissues;
1 can of cheese;
2 cans fruit jam (apricot and black berry);
2 packs of biscuits;
1 chocolate bar (dark);
2 bags choco-powder for chocolate milk/drink;
2 cans liver paté;
2 bags instant coffee;
2 bags instant tea;
2 bags coffee-whitener;
1 fruit juice powder (lemon);
1 white sealed pouch.

Contents of the sealed pouch:
1 bag powdered broth;
1 bag salt;
1 box matches;
1 pack gum;
1 role fruit mix;
1 role vitimised dextrose tablets (lemon taste);
2 bags instant soup (mushroom- and dutch pea-soup);
4 bags of sugar.

pic's: (hopefully in right order)
Note, the measuring tape is not part of contents but to give you an idea of the size, and is measured in cm's.

[Nawt]

Here's part 2.

[Nawt]

Part 3. Somehow I don't get the pictures full size, sorry for that.

[kman]

Great pics, Nawt! Thanks for sharing.

And yum! Look at that cheese spread...I just love the way it has pulled away from the sides and is probably one nice, hard cheesy lump. Are you sure you didn't want to taste test that one?

[Nawt]

Hello kman,

"You're welcome".
Yeah, they cheese didn't quite survive the hands of time. stabing it wasn't a succes. And it smelled like old greasy (toe)cheese.

Unfortunately the jam didn't stay in the cans as well. I'm glad the pictures worked out nice.

To norge,
Thank you for the 'taste info' on the instant tea. I have to admit that it was my first instant tea. For taste it was good though.

bye, Nawt

[deanopilot]

Kman:

Greasy Toe Cheese entree? An option for the MRE t-shirts?

[Richard w.]

Norge is right. The "white tea" is good with lots of sugar, "Sergeant Major's Style". It's already got creamer mixed in with it.

Still, it does have a little bit of a greasy dishwater taste to it, and if you're expecting tea-bag tasting tea, you will be very disappointed.

[kman]

deanopilot - ug...I don't think I can even type that menu name much less put it on a t-shirt.

Richard w. - that looks like the white tea they include with British rations. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but that's because everytime I open a British ration, my wife immediately grabs the white tea mix because she loves the stuff. The cats and I get stuck with the "Beef Pate" and she gets the white tea.