If someone asked you for "builders' tea", what would you make?

[LethargicLumpOfLockdownLard]

Colleague at work, when asked what they would like, asked for a cup of builders tea (no sugar). Several times. Each time I'd make it strong, then wonder why they went back to the kitchen and added more milk.
Eventually I asked them about it and they said they don't like it strong. When I queried this they said they ask for builders' tea in order to differentiate between regular tea and the decaf, redbush and other teas.
To me, builders' tea is strong tea. No?

Builders tea is dark brown strong tea

Some people are weird, why make things complicated by using the wrong words for things, tea is tea and only needs a descriptor if it's anything other than regular tea bags.

You are correct that builders means extra strong

Builders tea - strong, basic tea. My builders used to have 2 sugars but these days everyone says no sugar. I leave the milk for them to add.

These days they seem to ask for Coke (the drink not the nose candy).

Builders tea is strong tea.

I just googled it and even
Wikipedia agrees it’s a strong cup of tea. Your colleague is wrong.

Why has this annoyed me so
Much?!! 😌

Builders tea is just normal tea.

I wouldn't make it strong unless they specifically said so.

Wikipedia defines it as strong tea with a small amount of milk. Your colleague is odd.

Super strong dark brown tea with a dash of milk. Teabag left in for an age.

Strong and milky

I thought builders' tea just meant normal tea (breakfast tea, I guess). This has been eye opening.

I drink builders, strong dark slightly stewed. 😋😋😋

If it's been an hour or two in an urn even better.

Strong but plenty of milk too maybe. Not that semi transparent tea with a teaspoon of milk.

Tea with a pinch of cement dust and a nail in the bottom of the chipped mug.

Well brewed PG Tips. Not too little or too much milk. Two sugars. Stirred for them.

So what they just mean regular tea? It's always quite funny when somone thinks they're using a phrase or name properly and get quite insistent on it. But they're actually wrong. I'd make a string milky tea but then ask re sugar.

In a sports direct large cup. Tea bag left in for ages. Minimal milk.

Strong, 3 sugars

@museumum

It is strong but can also have a decent swig of milk too.

Tea strength and tea milkiness are separate factors.

This is very true and actually how I do tea, but I didn't want to overcomplicate matters. I have my tea strong but with a reasonable amount of milk...

I'd say strong tea, brewed for ages, dark.

Stewed with a splash of milk. That's builders tea to me and that's how I have it!

@peardrops1

I thought builders' tea just meant normal tea (breakfast tea, I guess). This has been eye opening.

Did you never wonder why there would need to be a special term for normal tea?

Builders tea is really strong: a bit stewed really, as it's traditionally kept hot on the brazier. It should be 'strong enough to stand a spoon in'.

The amount of milk is not part of the definition.
Your colleague should specify English tea if they just want a black tea blend.

I always thought that it meant ordinary teabag, in a mug, brewed strong, good-ish splash of milk, sugar to taste.

As opposed to some kind of fancy posh tea 😂

My mother calls tea made in a mug with a teabag “tramps tea” 😲

Really strong tea. Anything that is sold as 'builders tea' means it is strong.

PG Tips as opposed to Earl Grey