About Camp
Camp Coffee is one of Britain's most iconic and nostalgic food products, a coffee-and-chicory essence that has been a kitchen cupboard staple since 1876. Created in Glasgow by Paterson & Sons Ltd, it was one of the first attempts at instant coffee and represents a fascinating piece of British culinary history. The syrupy brown liquid was originally developed to provide an easily portable coffee drink for the Scottish regiment of the Gordon Highlanders during colonial campaigns abroad. In an era when fresh coffee beans weren't always available, this affordable, shelf-stable blend of coffee, chicory, water, and sugar proved invaluable. Chicory root had long been used in Europe to bulk out or replace coffee, making Camp both practical and economical. Camp Coffee's distinctive label is legendary—featuring a seated Gordon Highlander (supposedly depicting Major General Sir Hector MacDonald) with a Sikh soldier. In a notable update reflecting changing attitudes, since 2006 the Sikh has been depicted sitting beside the Scottish soldier as an equal, with his own cup and saucer. The modern recipe contains sugar, water, chicory extract (25%), and dried coffee extract (4%). While originally intended as a concentrate to dilute for drinking, Camp Coffee has evolved primarily into a baking ingredient. It remains beloved by British home bakers for creating intensely flavoured coffee cakes, coffee buttercream icing, tiramisu, and various desserts where coffee flavour is essential. Now produced in Paisley, Renfrewshire under the McCormick/Schwartz umbrella, Camp Coffee evokes powerful nostalgic memories for generations who remember it from childhood. It remains available at UK supermarkets including Ocado, Waitrose, Tesco, and Morrisons—a true British heritage product still serving modern kitchens.