We use a 4 cup measuring cup filled with about 3 cups tap water and 3 of the family size Luzzianne tea bags then heat in the microwave for 5 minutes.
Put 1.5 cups sugar in the pitcher and dump the tea in the pitcher. Then use a wooden spoon and mash the teabags to get what you can out of them. Stir it up real good and put 3 or 4 ice cubes in the pitcher. Let it sit a couple of minutes until the ice has melted then add water.
Had many a folks compliment me on my tea.