Builders tea
Encyclopedia
Builder's tea is the nickname for strong, cheap tea
, as is often drunk by builders when taking a break. The tea variety used is typically Assam tea
, usually served in a mug with milk
and, often, one or more sugar
s. Back in 1916, the ministry of Munitions' health committee wrote in a publication called 'Hours of Work', 'an opportunity for tea is regarded as beneficial both to health and output'. It is a staple of greasy spoon
restaurants. The name is derived from the quick, strong cuppa most often drunk by construction workers or builders as their tea break never lasted more than five minutes. The term "Builder's Tea", although in some respects directly describing the habit of builders to drink a particular type of tea, is also a method employed by many in the British aristocracy to differentiate themselves from their lower class counterparts.
These days "Builder's tea" can be used on many building sites as slang which means strong, milky and with two sugars. This saves the time of the tea boy/labourer when he asks everyone how they would like their tea. Usually the ratio of water to milk is about 4:1. The tea is mainly brewed in the mugs on site rather than in a teapot.
, "Red Label" (Brooke Bond
, Tesco
), Tetley
, Lyon's Quickbrew are best suited for making Builder's Tea.
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, as is often drunk by builders when taking a break. The tea variety used is typically Assam tea
Assam tea
Assam is a black tea named after the region of its production, Assam, in India. Assam tea is manufactured specifically from the plant Camellia sinensis var. assamica . This tea, most of which is grown at or near sea level, is known for its body, briskness, malty flavor, and strong, bright color...
, usually served in a mug with milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
and, often, one or more sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
s. Back in 1916, the ministry of Munitions' health committee wrote in a publication called 'Hours of Work', 'an opportunity for tea is regarded as beneficial both to health and output'. It is a staple of greasy spoon
Greasy spoon
Greasy spoon is a colloquial or slang term originating in the United States to mean a small, especially cheap, archetypal working class restaurant or diner. The term is now used in many English speaking countries to mean the same thing...
restaurants. The name is derived from the quick, strong cuppa most often drunk by construction workers or builders as their tea break never lasted more than five minutes. The term "Builder's Tea", although in some respects directly describing the habit of builders to drink a particular type of tea, is also a method employed by many in the British aristocracy to differentiate themselves from their lower class counterparts.
These days "Builder's tea" can be used on many building sites as slang which means strong, milky and with two sugars. This saves the time of the tea boy/labourer when he asks everyone how they would like their tea. Usually the ratio of water to milk is about 4:1. The tea is mainly brewed in the mugs on site rather than in a teapot.
Characteristics and brands
Builder’s tea is typically robust and flavourful with a brisk character and a rich brown colour. The leaves are often brewed for a longer period than would normally expected allowing for greater extraction of flavours and tanins, as such the tanin rich brew can have a slight dryness to it which is usually countered by the addition of sugar. Cafes would keep a large teapot (holding upwards of a gallon of tea) with many bags of tea constantly topped up with boiling water which allows for a deeper and stronger flavoured tea than would normally be obtained by standard tea brewing methods. The mug is made of ceramic so as to withstand the hot tea. There is no officially recognised "Builder's Tea" brand as such (although in 2007 a tea marketed as "Make Mine a Builders" was marketed in the UK), rather it is a method of tea preparation and serving. However some commercial teas are better suited to Builder's Tea due to higher tannin and caffeine contents, tea varieties with high amounts of Assam leaves are ideal for Builder's Tea: PG TipsPG Tips
PG Tips is a brand of tea in the United Kingdom, manufactured by Unilever UK. It is claimed that Britons drink 35 million cups of the tea every day.-Brand name:...
, "Red Label" (Brooke Bond
Brooke Bond
Brooke Bond is a brand-name of tea owned by Unilever, formerly an independent manufacturer in the United Kingdom, known for its PG Tips brand and its Brooke Bond tea cards.- History :...
, Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
), Tetley
Tetley
Tetley, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages , is the world's second largest manufacturer and distributor of tea. Owned by India's Tata Group, Tetley's manufacturing and distribution business is spread across 40 countries and sells over 60 branded tea bags...
, Lyon's Quickbrew are best suited for making Builder's Tea.