This is just a general overview of the contents of the Spanish Individual Combat Ration, Lunch menu A number 2. I won't give anything more than the most basic opinion of the food as my subjective opinion is not particularly valuable, I'll try and stick to objectives only.
I found at least one other review of this ration here. All pictures contained in this post and some extras
can be found here.
The only consumable things I can think that this ration is missing are bread or biscuits and tea or coffee. Bread like substances to spread the quince on or dip in your stew are the biggest omission. This is not enough to detract from the ration as I brought my own bread to the meal
The ration consists of what is shown and listed below:
- Contents overview
- Info English/French
Non-consumable items included with the ration are in the attachments. It includes everything you may need. Hygiene products (10 sheets of toilet paper, toothpaste, disinfectant, water purification tablets for 2 litres) and fire making equipment (foldable stove, 3 (hexamine?) fuel tablets and matches). In my opinion there should have been a French style can handle for the stew, but that's a minor omission.
For the entrée I chose the dehydrated soup, it is a fairly common cup soup, mildly (chicken) flavoured and with small meat bits and conchiglie pastas. I overfilled my mug by about 1 dl so I didn't get the best result from the soup.
- Dehydrated soup powder
- Soup
For the main course I had the stew. This "Galician Stew" had a healthy amount of meat, a couple of cuts from at least two different animals (cow and pig), some chorizo I think and some pork fat. Vegetable matter included beans, green vegetables and potatoes. The broth was simple, fatty and complimented well the flavours of the rest of the ingredients.
It heated up easily in the can using the provided stove and didn't leave any burnt food in the bottom. Overall the flavour was not offensive and tasted fine, no sign of any problems with packaging or transport (the can had taken an impact in transit).
- Stew can bottom
- Stew cooked
For accompaniment is the squid (this was probably meant to be had before the main course, after the soup). The squid were clean, firm, fresh tasting (again this can had taken damage in transit) but not rubbery. They were in a sauce of ink and some unknown vegetable matter. They had a couple of bits of slight hardness (not grittiness like sand), probably from the arms.
- Squid can bottom
- Squid served
For dessert was the quince jam, on (non-authentic) bread. This is a very thick and smooth jam, more like a thick quince jelly or quince butter. Spread very easily and tasted as I imagine it should. I got a hint of prune in the jam for some reason.
- Quince jam unopened
- Quince jam on bread
As for consumable accessories, the chewing gum was soft with a mild peppermint flavour, quite a large lump and good for its intended purpose. The isotonic drinks were very similar to French ones, very little flavour, a little salty, but there to do a job and that's all.
- Isotonic drink and chewing gum packet
- Chewing gum
All in all this is a decent ration, likely gives you what is needed nutrients wise, but could have a little extra for comfort. The food included was very well made and tasted as it should and didn't offend any tastes. In my opinion, certainly superior to the US and UK rations. Not quite as good as the French rations though.
