This is not the recipe from Carey Hilliards, but my Mother, being from the South, made sweet tea forever.

Her trick was to boil about 3 cups of water, remove from heat and add 7 Lipton tea bags. Cover and let steep for 15-30 minutes.

Remove the tea bags and add about 1 1/2 cups sugar and stir until dissolved.

Divide the "tea syrup" between two pitchers equally and add water to each to make 2 full pitchers.

Hope this is similar to what you are looking for.