It don't matter if you're black or white

[venta]

Before my Dad retired, his job took him to a lot of military establishments. He used to refer to "standard army-issue tea" - that is, white-two-sugars. Apparently it was habitually served that way because "everyone" took it like that.

Earlier today, making tea for hjalfi, I observed that my default assumption is white-no-sugar. I have no idea of the prevalence of various tea-preferences, so figure I need a quick poll:

I in no way promise to remember this next time I make you tea, by the way.

[Poll #1227748]


And yes, tea-tasting. For those who were interested, I know I haven't sorted anything out yet. Life's a bit fraught at present.

Comments

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Ian and Kirk, both ex-army, use that phrase.

And since I don't believe oxfordgirl knows either of them, that suggests that it's at least not totally isolated to a single group.

[chrisvenus]

Yeah, I'm aware that I know it from Cam people (such as them and Rik too) but that still doesn't mean I don't want references. I mean, its not that I disbelieve but I just like to have these things in more concrete form.

Besides, saying its not isolated to a single group depends on how you define the group... If that single group is UK LARPers...

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

True. Feel free to go survey a random set of military personnel :)

[edling.livejournal.com]

I've heard of NATO standard tea too- most memorably through a friend of mine who wasn't quite an arms dealer, so I think it's pretty widespread. Interestingly, I can't find much in the way of orgins for it on the interwebs either- the best I've seen so far is the jargon file here saying it dates to the 1950s...