A series on Humble Tea Leaf
War and Tea
The best flavors often come from things that were never meant to go together.
Soldiers, hunters and campaigns from history, each paired with a tea, plus the true stories of what people drank on the march. The quick pairings live on X at @TeaAndWar; some grow into long reads here.
What’s in your cup?
- Strong black tea with sugarDrink it with the Cossacks and Russian soldiers→
- Smoky lapsang souchongDrink it with Copenhagen on fire, 1807→
- Thai Nguyen green teaDrink it with Vietnam’s hidden kitchens→
- Black tea with condensed milkDrink it with the Australians’ brew up in Vietnam→
Next, 11 Nov: tea in the trenches of the First World War. Follow @TeaAndWar for the pairings first.
The Caucasus, Cossack country (Intourist map, c. 1930) · Read the Cossack story →
Long reads
The full stories, with sources and a tea to drink while you read.
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The Danish Tea Trade: Copenhagen, British Smugglers and the 1807 Bombardment
Copenhagen grew rich shipping tea that smugglers sold in Britain. Then in 1807 Britain set the city on fire. The Danish tea trade and what to drink.
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Tea in the Vietnam War: Smokeless Stoves, Brew Ups and Beer
Tea in the Vietnam War: smoke gave soldiers away. How a Vietnamese army cook hid his fire, how Australians brewed up on patrol, and what to drink.
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What Cossacks and Russian Soldiers Really Drank: Wine, Vodka and the Fight for Tea
A Cossack was the first Russian to describe tea, yet most Cossacks drank wine and vodka. Russian soldiers wanted tea, and whether the army ever gave it to them is still debated.
War and tea in pictures
Paintings and photographs from the long reads. Pick one to read its story.
Pairings live on X
A figure, a campaign, a tea: short posts a few times a week at @TeaAndWar.
My loose tea and tea accessories
What I drink while writing these. Some links may earn a commission.