IME boiling the bags with the water makes it bitter
boil any amount of cold water. Remove from heat and toss 8-10 tea bags in. Add 1 cup sugar to a gallon pitcher and fill about 1/3 with very cold water. Stir to dissolve. The tea needs to steep for at least 15 mins, but if you don't have that much time, you can just leave the tea bags in the tea, in the pitcher. Other wise, take them out. Add the tea to the pitcher, then fill the pitcher the rest of the way with very cold water or ice, but only if you know the ice doesn't have any kind of funky taste. Also, I like it less sweet than many, so if you're looking for that super sweet southern taste, up to a cup and a half of sugar is the way to go.