Newfoundland’s “Victory Tea” (1943) – The War-Time Tea That Kept an Island Caffeinated

Mar 08, 2025

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A vintage 1940s-style illustration of a Newfoundland kitchen during World War II, featuring a wooden table with a bottle of 'Victory Tea' with a blue label. A woman in a modest dress and apron is preparing tea using a kettle on a cast-iron stove, while ration coupons and a newspaper with war-time headlines lie on the table. The scene is warm and nostalgic, with muted colors and soft lighting.

You wake up in the morning, shuffle into the kitchen, and go to put the kettle on—only to be reminded that your morning tea is rationed. And not just any rationed tea. It’s not your favorite Brooke Bond, Red Rose, or Ceylon blend. It’s a war-time substitute, sold in a plain bottle with a stark blue label, a symbol of necessity rather than choice. This w…

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