I've been reading Sue's wartime rationing blog (until she paused) and the Facebook group and was reminded of the coffee that my Grandma always used, during the war (I wasn't around but Mum said that's what they always had) and ever after .
A Camp Coffee poster among other advertisements on a tenement building in 1929
Camp Coffee was created in 1885 by Campbell Paterson (1851-1927) of R. Paterson & Son in Glasgow. The company specialised in cordials, and their best-selling product was a raspberry cordial often added to whisky or brandy to create a drink known as "Cuddle-me-Dearie". The coffee essence was developed by Campbell Paterson for domestic use, to avoid the complex and then expensive equipment required for coffee drinking.[4]
Legend has it (mainly due to the picture on the label) that Camp Coffee originated as an instant coffee for military use. The label has the classic theme of the romance of the British Raj. It includes a drawing of a seated Gordon Highlander (supposedly Major General Sir Hector MacDonald)[5] being served by a Sikh soldier holding a tray with a bottle of essence and jug of hot water. They are in front of a tent, at the apex of which flies a flag bearing the drink's slogan, "Ready Aye Ready". That was also the motto of the 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force) of the British Indian Army. In this context, the Scots word 'aye' has the meaning of 'always' rather than 'yes',[6] and indicates, in the case of the drink, that it is 'always ready' to be made.
The original label, by William Victor Wrigglesworth, depicted a Sikh servant waiting on a seated Scottish soldier. A feature of that label was that the server carried a tray on which there was a bottle of Camp Coffee, which carried the same label showing a bottle of Camp Coffee, regressing to infinity. A later version of the label, introduced in the mid-20th century, removed the tray from the picture, thus removing the infinite bottles Droste effect, which was seen as an attempt to avoid the connotation that the Sikh was a servant, although he still waited while the kilted Scottish soldier sipped his coffee.[7][8] Since 2006, the Sikh is depicted as a soldier sitting beside the Scottish soldier, with a cup and saucer of his own
It was good to see it's still in the shops so I bought a bottle to try. Shame it's no longer in the nice square glass bottle that I remember.
I remember always having sugar in it when we went to Grandma's house on the bus each Thursday but it seemed plenty sweet enough to me when I tried it and actually not very nice. I'll keep it for making coffee sponges............lots of coffee sponges........all winter!
Someone asked what the 'Compost Jelly' was like - I can safely say.........Very Tasty!
I labelled it as 'Mixed Fruit Jelly' as I'm giving two jars away and I thought Compost Jelly would put them off eating it!
I tried it on toast and then made scones and bought clotted cream. Definitely extremely edible despite being made from all the bits that are normally chucked out.
I probably will do it again this time next year but will use less water to cover everything at the first cooking to cut down the time and use less electric.
That was the only coffee I knew as a child. My mother had acquired a taste for it when evacuated during the war to a family in Somerset and would buy no other. It was also ideal for flavouring coffee cake as I remember - she once won a prize for her coffee sponge!
My Mum used to buy jars of powdered coffee & chicory, or sometimes a coffee substitute made of powdered dandelion root.....I suspect because it was cheaper. My MiL, who wasn't a coffee drinker, always, till the end of her life, only ever bought Camp coffee. All were disgusting, as I recall.
My parents only drank tea and I hated tea so on a wet holiday in Margate when I was 9 I got them to buy me a coffee in a cafe (Camp) I loved it and drank it when we got home. Mum was glad I would then have a hot drink. They never drank coffee and I have never drunk tea.Val
We always had camp coffee when I was growing up and I enjoyed it then. I've often thought about buying a bottle to try now but have a feeling I would hate it! Like you say though it would get used making coffee and walnut cakes so wouldn't go to waste.
I remember Camp coffee fondly. I find it makes a very good iced coffee for the summer. And it was also very useful in baking because you didn't have to dilute granules. Shame about the bottle though. still that's the way of the world plastic everything. Although, in my case, because I drop so much stuff, plastic bottles aren't so bad anymore.
Am I correct or have I made this up that it's not pure coffee, is it? Isn't it coffee with chicory extract or something like that which might explain the odd taste. Off to Google I go!
We never drank coffee when I was a child and it must have been when I was a teenager and went to coffee bars with my friends that I first tasted coffee. I used to use Camp coffee when I made iced coffee cakes.
There were two coffee bars, well established, by the time I was old enough to go there on my own. One was considered very risqué as it had only a keyhole shaped window at the front so was quite dark inside! 1 cup of Camp was enough to find out that I would only be using it in cakes!
I grew up with camp coffee it was what was available after the war in England. Late forties early fifties, I have not had it in years but it does remind me of life with my mum and dad when I was little in Essex. Jean in Winnipeg
I remember Camp coffee but don't recall my parents ever drinking it. I suppose they must have done. I have never drunk coffee and don't drink tea now, either.
As a child during the war years, my grandmother would use Postum, a hot drink made from toasted grain. The same manufacturer who makes the breakfast cereals made it. I liked it, but then I didn't drink real coffee until I was an adult. She was also an avid tea drinker, and I learned to love hot tea at her table. I checked a few months ago and one can still buy Postum on Amazon, but I have not purchased any.
The price was more than I was willing to pay for something I really had no need for, and that would have been a coffee substitute. I drink one mug of dark roast with caffeine every morning and tea, either hot or iced any other time. Spending upwards of 14 US dollars for a jar seemed a bit outrageous.
I like Camp coffee for baking but not as a drink! My sister uses something called Barleycup which is a coffee substitute she gets from a health food store. The jelly looks great Alison in Wales x
Chicory was not made from dandelion root. It is made from the chicory plant which grows wild here. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cichorium-intybus/
I have had chicory coffee before, in the Cafe du Monde in New Orleans and with warm beignets, it simply could not be beat. I bought a can home with me and never could duplicate the loveliness. It was awful.
Camp Coffee is new to me. I've never seen it on our US grocery shelves. Given what you say, I'll probably pass on trying it. Your jelly looks yummy on the scone with clotted cream.
Camp coffee is referred to, usually as a comic element, bin a lot of contemporary English novels! We rarely had it, being tea drinkers. I remember a food parcel from friends in the US which included a can of coffee grounds. My mother had no idea how to use it, and I think ended up giving it away. At the time coffee was hard to get in the US, so I expect the sender imagined she'd be thrilled. They also sent clothing parcels, beautiful lightweight cottons in colors we'd never seen, not European. I still remember a pink skirt that fitted my sister, pink! A skirt! Amazing!
I remember we had camp coffee (in the square bottles) at home when I was little, and it tasted very bitter. I could never drink it. Is that a plastic bottle now? It looks plain wrong.
how strange , other half requested a bottle last week and i was to get some neutered milk to go with it ??? turned out he meant sterilised milk which eluded me , so hes ended up with evaporated milk
Camp coffee reminds me of working Saturdays in our village shop when I was a teenager. My Mum used to drink the coffee substitute made from dandelion roots, she used to buy it from a health food shop, yuk, I never liked it.
One of my aunts was an inveterate drinker of Camp coffee, of the 5 sisters she was the only one who drank it, the other 4 drank either instant coffee (my mother) or tea (the other aunt's). Interestingly, that aunt was the only one of the five to have joined up in WW2, she was in the ATS. Not sure if the two things are related? As an aside, that aunt would also frequently lace the coffee with a good sized slug of brandy!
Mum used to drink Camp Coffee when I was growing up, so you've just taken me back to my childhood and I am back home:) I do not like coffee in any form and my son complains bitterly that the instant coffee in the cupboard often has to be chiselled out with a knife - well I said, you should visit more often!!!
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That was the only coffee I knew as a child. My mother had acquired a taste for it when evacuated during the war to a family in Somerset and would buy no other. It was also ideal for flavouring coffee cake as I remember - she once won a prize for her coffee sponge!
ReplyDeleteIt has an odd taste - sweet but bitter - I'll use it in cakes too
DeleteMy Mum used to buy jars of powdered coffee & chicory, or sometimes a coffee substitute made of powdered dandelion root.....I suspect because it was cheaper. My MiL, who wasn't a coffee drinker, always, till the end of her life, only ever bought Camp coffee. All were disgusting, as I recall.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is still a dandelion root coffee available - it was supposed to be a passable substitute
DeleteI am sorry. I misread.
DeleteMy parents only drank tea and I hated tea so on a wet holiday in Margate when I was 9 I got them to buy me a coffee in a cafe (Camp) I loved it and drank it when we got home. Mum was glad I would then have a hot drink. They never drank coffee and I have never drunk tea.Val
ReplyDeleteWe only ever had coffee mid morning when I was young - tea the rest of the time. Now I only drink coffee unless there is no choice
DeleteMy Nanna used Camp coffee and she always made it with warmed up milk and sugar. Even as a child, I rather disliked it.
ReplyDeleteThe compost/mixed fruit jelly sounds really delicious. xx
It has a strange taste - perhaps hot milk and sugar would have improved it
DeleteWe always had camp coffee when I was growing up and I enjoyed it then. I've often thought about buying a bottle to try now but have a feeling I would hate it! Like you say though it would get used making coffee and walnut cakes so wouldn't go to waste.
ReplyDeleteI think it keeps forever, unlike a jar of coffee granules which either clump or fade - perhaps that was why it was so popular
DeleteI remember Camp coffee fondly. I find it makes a very good iced coffee for the summer. And it was also very useful in baking because you didn't have to dilute granules. Shame about the bottle though. still that's the way of the world plastic everything. Although, in my case, because I drop so much stuff, plastic bottles aren't so bad anymore.
ReplyDeleteI guess I liked it at Grandma's house but found it an odd taste now. Hadn't thought of plastic being safer but I can see it would be.
DeleteAm I correct or have I made this up that it's not pure coffee, is it? Isn't it coffee with chicory extract or something like that which might explain the odd taste. Off to Google I go!
DeleteWe never drank coffee when I was a child and it must have been when I was a teenager and went to coffee bars with my friends that I first tasted coffee. I used to use Camp coffee when I made iced coffee cakes.
ReplyDeleteI shall use it for coffee cakes definitely - better buy walnuts for the perfect finish!
DeleteI have never heard of this coffee replacement
ReplyDeleteCathy
Perhaps it's a very British thing
DeleteCan't remember having drunk Camp coffee, but I remember when the first coffee bars came into being with their jukeboxes. We were so grown up!
ReplyDeleteThere were two coffee bars, well established, by the time I was old enough to go there on my own. One was considered very risqué as it had only a keyhole shaped window at the front so was quite dark inside!
Delete1 cup of Camp was enough to find out that I would only be using it in cakes!
I grew up with camp coffee it was what was available after the war in England. Late forties early fifties, I have not had it in years but it does remind me of life with my mum and dad when I was little in Essex. Jean in Winnipeg
ReplyDeleteI think Grandma still used it in the 1980s!
DeleteI remember Camp coffee but don't recall my parents ever drinking it. I suppose they must have done. I have never drunk coffee and don't drink tea now, either.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we had it at home once jars of coffee powder appeared
DeleteAs a child during the war years, my grandmother would use Postum, a hot drink made from toasted grain. The same manufacturer who makes the breakfast cereals made it. I liked it, but then I didn't drink real coffee until I was an adult. She was also an avid tea drinker, and I learned to love hot tea at her table. I checked a few months ago and one can still buy Postum on Amazon, but I have not purchased any.
ReplyDeleteAre you tempted to try the Postum to see if it is how you remember?
DeleteThe price was more than I was willing to pay for something I really had no need for, and that would have been a coffee substitute. I drink one mug of dark roast with caffeine every morning and tea, either hot or iced any other time. Spending upwards of 14 US dollars for a jar seemed a bit outrageous.
DeleteI like Camp coffee for baking but not as a drink! My sister uses something called Barleycup which is a coffee substitute she gets from a health food store. The jelly looks great
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Don't think I'll search out Barleycup - presumably made by roasted grains?
DeleteI have never had a taste for coffee and don't even like "coffee-flavored" items. I drink water or seltzer water and that's it. I'm so boring!
ReplyDeleteI like a nice coffee, especially when someone makes it for me
DeleteMy father (Army in WWII) always drank Camp Coffee. I can still remember the horrible smell. I'm a big fan of ground coffee though.
ReplyDeleteThe smell was OK - but the taste was not so good
DeleteChicory was not made from dandelion root. It is made from the chicory plant which grows wild here. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cichorium-intybus/
ReplyDeleteI have had chicory coffee before, in the Cafe du Monde in New Orleans and with warm beignets, it simply could not be beat. I bought a can home with me and never could duplicate the loveliness. It was awful.
Did someone say chicory was made from dandelion root?
DeleteI don't think so.
Camp Coffee is new to me. I've never seen it on our US grocery shelves. Given what you say, I'll probably pass on trying it. Your jelly looks yummy on the scone with clotted cream.
ReplyDeleteDon't bother to search out Camp coffee unless you want it for cake making!
DeleteCamp coffee is referred to, usually as a comic element, bin a lot of contemporary English novels! We rarely had it, being tea drinkers. I remember a food parcel from friends in the US which included a can of coffee grounds. My mother had no idea how to use it, and I think ended up giving it away. At the time coffee was hard to get in the US, so I expect the sender imagined she'd be thrilled. They also sent clothing parcels, beautiful lightweight cottons in colors we'd never seen, not European. I still remember a pink skirt that fitted my sister, pink! A skirt! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteYes pink would have been wonderful in the drab days when grey was the norm for skirts
DeleteI rather like the name compost jelly! And I'm glad it's tasty. That vintage history is so interesting to me. I really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteI remember we had camp coffee (in the square bottles) at home when I was little, and it tasted very bitter. I could never drink it. Is that a plastic bottle now? It looks plain wrong.
ReplyDeletehow strange , other half requested a bottle last week and i was to get some neutered milk to go with it ??? turned out he meant sterilised milk which eluded me , so hes ended up with evaporated milk
ReplyDeleteCamp coffee reminds me of working Saturdays in our village shop when I was a teenager. My Mum used to drink the coffee substitute made from dandelion roots, she used to buy it from a health food shop, yuk, I never liked it.
ReplyDeleteOne of my aunts was an inveterate drinker of Camp coffee, of the 5 sisters she was the only one who drank it, the other 4 drank either instant coffee (my mother) or tea (the other aunt's). Interestingly, that aunt was the only one of the five to have joined up in WW2, she was in the ATS. Not sure if the two things are related? As an aside, that aunt would also frequently lace the coffee with a good sized slug of brandy!
ReplyDeleteMum used to drink Camp Coffee when I was growing up, so you've just taken me back to my childhood and I am back home:) I do not like coffee in any form and my son complains bitterly that the instant coffee in the cupboard often has to be chiselled out with a knife - well I said, you should visit more often!!!
ReplyDelete