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?

I think the relevant distinction is between:

a) 'What would you like to drink?' 'Builder's tea please' = strong tea, milk and two sugars.

and

b) 'What kind of tea would you like?', 'Builder's please' = normal tea, Tetley, PG, Yorkshire etc, not a particular type of tea. In this case, follow-up questions about strength, milk and sugar may be required.

Your colleague is saying B but you're hearing A (or they're saying A but think they're saying B).

But "milk and two sugars" is 'NATO standard'!

www.forces.net/services/tri-service/fancy-brew-nato-or-whoopi

I would interpret Builder's Tea as being made with one of the basic tea brands I don't like, such as Tetley, Typhoo or PG Tips. Builders here just have to make do with my English Breakfast tea.

Stewed, always made with Yorkshire tea and with a good glug of milk to balanced the stewedness 😃

If the mug isn’t stained with plenty of tannins it just ain’t builders tea 😂

Thought it meant very milky with enough sugar that you could stand the teaspoon up in it?

Normally it goes

Would you like a hot drink?
Thanks, tea please
How do you take it?
Strong please, builder's tea, white one sugar.

I've never had a tradesperson ask for builders tea.

I say "would you like tea or coffee?'

And they say which, they might add "milk and two sugars", of not, I say "how do you take it?"

If they say no thanks to the "tea or coffee" I would say "is there anything else you'd like, I have a variety of teas, squash, water...."

I don't recall any ever asking for Oolong, but it's there if they want it!

You need these to make builders tea...

I've never in my life heard of NATO tea. Not in any home or workplace ever. I don't doubt it's an expression that some people use (people with a military background?) but it's far from common parlance, in the way that builders' tea is.

I have offered tea to people, who when I've asked what type, prepared to reel off a few options, have said 'oh just builders' thanks', by which they mean 'normal' tea. They don't necessarily mean 'strong tea'.

Whereas, if I was doing a round of tea at work and someone asked for 'a builder's tea please', I'd understand that to describe the whole drink, so a strong mug of tea, not just the type of tea used.

2 teabags and stew for a week. 😁

Obviously you'd never ask a builder if they wanted 'builders' tea'! You'd just say and make tea.

Though a significant minority of tradespeople are more than happy to accept an offer of proper coffee, I find.

Builders tea is definitely strong tea, I’d also assume milk and sugar.

My Liverpudlian DDad used to complain about "fortnight" tea, which was too weak.

Builders tea is an old expression, not what most builders today automatically drink the youngsters probably drink a monster energy drink anyway.

I think that you'll find that whilst builders may ask for 'builders tea' in reality they chuck that into the cement mixer and drink darjeeling or earl grey with a slice of lemon (which is why so often one may find lemon rind in the footings - that'll confound the achaeologists in the future) or quietly sip from bottle of flavoured, vegan water.