Saving British Tea in UK during WW 2

Have many cups of tea during the day is a long tradition for the Brits. During the second world war, for the United Kingdom, war started in 1939 for the UK, they found they were in danger of losing their tea supplies. The British government considered so crucial to the morale of the people to keep tea available.

The German government knew how much tea meant to the Britains, the Luftwaffe bombed the center of tea supply in London, at Mincing Lane, during the Blitz between 1940 and 1941. It was after this sustained attack, when many of the records and stocks related to tea purchasing were lost, that the UK government decided to buy up as much tea as they could.

They bought all the tea that was available to them from every country. Much of the tea came from India, Sri Lanka, and Africa locations where the varieties of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan black teas are grown. The popular English and Irish breakfast teas are blended with these 3 types of tea to this day.

Even for the UK soldiers in all locations, tea in large quantities was needed in order to keep the troops in good supply on the front. Tanks for UK forces had built-in water kettles (boiling vessels) for making tea even while at war. These devices were installed as a safer way to boil tea. Even today, this boiling vessel feature is still required for British tanks.

Some estimations stated tea was the second biggest government purchase by the British in 1942, second only to bullets.

Even with rationing of everything, civilians were allowed 2 ounces of loose tea per adult per week—enough for 3 cups a day. UK rationed until 1958, tea ceased to be rationed in 1952 after having been upped from 2 ounces to 3 ounces a week. Tea remains one of the favorite and most-consumed drinks in the region.

Photo: English brewed cup of tea

Related FamilyTree.com Blogs:

Using British Newspapers

Muster Gas in the War

UK Records for B-M-D

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