On top of all the hardships endured by the British during World War II, there was also the disruption of their tea supply. While that may seem minor compared to wartime destruction, tea is so deeply tied to British culture that such an interruption was significant.
Perhaps the greatest indignity was the introduction of tea rationing in Britain during World War II and its long postwar continuation, which began in 1940 and lasted until 1952—seven years after the war had ended.
It is unclear whether rationing was already in effect when the International Tea Market Expansion Board Limited released a 1940 map titled Tea Revives the World, which appears to have been intended to promote tea’s importance during wartime.
The map was created by McDonald Gill, an artist, architect, and cartographer born in 1884. Gill is best known for his illustrated maps, often referred to as decorative map posters. His work covered a variety of subjects, including transportation routes and geography. You can view a collection of McDonald Gill’s illustrated maps and design work on his official website.
Gill also created other tea-themed maps, including one titled Where Our Tea Comes From, though these are less widely known.
Because these works were designed as large-format printed maps, they do not always translate well to digital viewing. However, for those interested in seeing an example, you can explore this Guardian feature showcasing the “Tea Revives the World” map, which provides a visual overview of the design.
Additional historical context and imagery can be found in this design archive resource examining McDonald Gill’s tea maps and their cultural background, including images of related works.
See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea-related writing by the author.
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