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?

Strong tea, not much milk, definitely sugar.

Normal tea with a normal amount of milk, but with the teabag left in for a long time so that it is an orangey-brown colour.

@museumum

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

Tea strength and tea milkiness are separate factors.

This.

DH has shortened it to "Bush". Thats had some odd looks prior to the explanation.

Your PG Tips and Typhoo is gnats piss, you need Yorkshire tea for builder’s brew.

Super strong. I like Yorkshire with a teeny tiny splash of milk. Preferably with the bag left in (but I don't ask work colleagues to do that because they'll judge). Proper builders tea.

Builder’s tea is, by definition, strong tea and should be brewed for at least five minutes and served with plenty of sugar. That’s the whole point. Builders need a proper strong cuppa to keep them going through a hard day’s work. Weak dishwater won’t do the job.

@Meowza74

"Milk and two" I was asked for every hour on the hour when ours were here recently.

Around here that would be a 'standard NATO'

Strong tea, splash of milk

Not only is it the colloquial term for strong tea, an extra strong teabag is called builders tea in the advertising of some brands.

In my office (with lots of ex-police), I’ve heard extra strong tea referred to as police officers’ tea but that’s a jokey take-off of the real name.

My guess is your colleague is confusing it with breakfast tea which just means black tea and doesn’t say anything about the strength.

Builders brew-good strong cuppa with a dash of milk (& possibly a couple of sugars but I’d always confirm that)

I would consider builders tea to be a breakfast tea, not decaf, not earl grey, no hints of floral fragrance. Never thought about the strength.

Very strong, some milk, 28 sugars.

It means strong tea. The phrase has been around far longer than the trend for having twenty types of tea in the office cupboard.

V strong tea, let them fish the teabag out...if you're feeling mean don't tell them

Well, whatever most of you think, OP's colleague obviously means it in the way that I and some other posters think of it - something like Typhoo or Tetley's or PG Tips. Strength of brewing is not implied.

Very strong, splosh of milk, 2 sugars = builders tea.

Very strong and lots of sugar with milk.

Yes, a ‘builder’s brew’ round our way is something the colour of Donald Trump’s complexion, probably with a lot of sugar in it. Your colleague means ‘ proper tea’ but can’t have it because.....drum roll......’ all proper-tea is theft’. I’ll get me coat

I'd use 'Builder's Tea' in exactly the way the OP's colleague does. Real tea , as in English breakfast tea rather than herbal or decaff. No strong brewing implied, nor sugar (builders, after all, have a range of tastes).

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

Strong, tea bag left in for ages. But then milky AF.

It was going brilliantly until you used the word milky🤓 Builders tea is very strong hardly any milk. Milky is a swear word in my world of tea!

Everyone I know says builders tea to differentiate from Earl Grey, Green etc etc. Normal strength with milk.

YANBU- it's strong (to the point of being stewed, almost) black tea - just ordinary stuff, none of yer orange pekoe or Earl Grey malarkey.

^ so builders tea = English Breakfast Tea

Probably with 6 sugars . . .