Summary of "1899-1902 British Emergency Ration Field Service Oldest MRE Beef Eaten Survival Food Review Test"
Product
1899–1902 British Emergency Ration (Field Service) — Boer War era
Short description
A compact emergency ration issued to British troops during the Second Boer War (produced circa 1899–1902). Manufactured by Boville (London) with several variations; many examples later became Royal Navy surplus and were used into World War I. Net weight approximately 11 oz (311 g). Designed to sustain a soldier for about 36 hours if rationed.
Packaging & contents
- Outer tin with soldered caps on both ends. Originally fitted with a carrying ring and a paper label with instructions to carry in the haversack.
-
Paper label warning (original wording):
“is not to be opened except by order of an officer or in extremity”
-
Inside the outer tin were two small inner tins (each about 4 oz):
- Concentrated beef paste
- Cocoa paste
Preparation instructions printed on the lids:
- Beef: can be eaten dry (with or without biscuit) or dilute 1/4 of the tin in 1 pint water (label/video indicates up to 1 hour of boiling) to make beef tea.
- Cocoa paste: can be eaten dry or simmer 1/4 of the tin in 1 pint water for about 15 minutes to make liquid cocoa.
Main features
- Extremely compact and simple emergency food for soldiers: concentrated meat paste and cocoa.
- Very long potential shelf life (a documented example survived ~118 years).
- Separate inner tins to prevent component interaction (though corrosion of one tin could still contaminate contents).
- Minimal instructions and no seasoning — intended strictly as emergency sustenance, not comfort food.
User experience (reviewer: Steve1989)
- Opening: tins were hard to open; original carrying ring on the outer tin was broken. Cocoa tin exhibited pinholes and corrosion; beef tin was mostly intact though outer layers were corroded.
- Smell & appearance:
- Beef: still smelled of “metallic beef” but also had foul/metallic notes in places.
- Cocoa: smelled of dirt/metal, largely corroded and considered inedible.
- Dry taste and texture:
- Small dry pieces resembled pulverized beef jerky, stale bread, cardboard, and chlorine.
- Texture included fibrous meat, gritty bits tasting like bone or cartilage, and grain/filler.
- Reconstituted (boiled ~40 minutes as porridge):
- Produced a thin, foul-smelling porridge.
- Taste described as weak, metallic, somewhat like refried beans mixed with beef, with fatty/gristly pieces.
- Heating produced a strong off-putting odor that caused the reviewer to wheeze.
- Physiological reaction:
- The reviewer felt sluggish after eating a small amount but did not report acute illness.
- The reviewer avoided the cocoa due to corrosion and preserved the remainder after resealing the tin.
- Preservation action: reviewer plans to reseal/solder the outer tin and keep it for collectors or scientific analysis rather than further consumption.
Pros
- Historically significant and highly collectible.
- Very compact emergency ration concept — a precursor to modern MREs.
- Some parts (e.g., center of beef tin) can remain well preserved even after long storage.
- Flexible use: eat dry or reconstitute as a drink/porridge; could be stretched to feed multiple men in dire circumstances.
Cons
- Very poor palatability: metallic taste, foul odor when heated, gritty/chewy with bone/cartilage/grain.
- Packaging vulnerable to corrosion and pinholes over time; cocoa tin in the reviewed example was compromised.
- No seasoning; likely made from low-grade meat and by-products/fillers.
- Heating can release very unpleasant odors and may cause physical discomfort (wheezing, nausea).
- Not recommended to eat unless absolutely necessary; risky if tins show corrosion.
Comparisons & context
- Described as an original survival ration and compared to later WWI emergency rations (e.g., early U.S. rations that mixed grain and beef).
- Functionally the ancestor of modern emergency rations/MREs; sensory comparison made to low-grade hamburger with flour or “F‑grade” beef.
Unique points (distinct details noted)
- Manufactured by Boville (London); several variations produced during the Boer War.
- Many units became Royal Navy surplus and saw use into WWI.
- Net weight ~11 oz / 311 g.
- Outer tin had two soldered caps and an original carrying ring (often broken or missing).
- Original paper label warned the ration not be opened except by order or in extremity; intended to be kept in the haversack.
- Ration intended to maintain strength for about 36 hours when rationed.
- Inner tins each labeled as ~4 oz (concentrated beef and cocoa paste).
- Printed labels/instructions: eat dry or dilute 1/4 tin into 1 pint water (beef: up to ~1 hour; cocoa: ~15 minutes).
- Beef tin center can remain preserved even after a century; edges and seams are prone to corrosion.
- Cocoa tins are especially prone to corrosion and pinholes, which can contaminate the contents.
- Beef texture: pulverized/dried meat paste with fibrous bits, bone/cartilage fragments, and grain/fillers.
- Reconstitution produced a thin porridge that emitted foul odors and induced wheeze in the reviewer.
- The product could theoretically be stretched to serve multiple people in an extreme survival setting.
- Likely contains low-grade meat and various animal by-products and fillers.
- Reviewer tasting notes: metallic, cardboard/bread, chlorine hints, fatty/gristly pieces, slight film-like residue in the mouth.
- Reviewer felt sluggish after ingestion but experienced no acute illness; remainder preserved for collection/science.
Ratings / scores
No numeric ratings were given.
Final verdict / recommendation
- As an historical artifact and collector’s item: highly interesting and valuable for historians, collectors, and curators.
- As food: not recommended except as an absolute last resort. Even if reconstituted successfully, the ration is unpalatable, may smell strongly foul when heated, and—if tins are corroded—may contain degraded or contaminated material.
- For survival testing or reenactment, use modern reproductions or contemporary emergency rations; do not consume century-old tins unless professionally analyzed and declared safe.
Speakers / contributors
- Observations, tasting, preparation, and commentary provided by a single reviewer: Steve1989.
Category
Product Review
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