Here’s the surprising part: you need more tea bags than you think. For a standard half-gallon pitcher, use six to eight regular Lipton bags. Yes, that sounds like you’re hosting a party for ants, but trust me—ice is a flavor thief.
Drop the bags into the hot water. Do not tear them open. Do not treat them like a piñata. Just let them swim like tiny, sad little tea ghosts for exactly four to five minutes. Any longer, and you’ll brew a liquid that tastes like a regretful breakup.
