Heat 2 cups of the water in a small pot until boiling, or use a microwave-safe vessel to heat it in the microwave. The water should reach a full boil before brewing begins.

Take the pot off the burner and immerse the tea bags, or add them to the microwave-heated water. The bags should sit in the hot water without further cooking.

Leave the bags in the water for 10 minutes, then lift them out and discard them. The resulting concentrate should have a deep tea color and distinct brewed aroma.

During the steep, cut the strawberries into pieces and process them in a food processor. Continue until the fruit becomes a smooth puree rather than a chunky mixture.

Pass the puree through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, collecting the juice and discarding the remaining pulp. The collected liquid should flow freely without coarse berry fibers.

Combine the warm tea, strained strawberry juice, and sugar in a large pitcher, then stir thoroughly. Keep stirring until no sugar crystals remain visible or gritty at the bottom.

Mix the remaining 4 cups of water into the pitcher, using cold water for this addition. The dark concentrate will become lighter while retaining its ruby-amber hue.

Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill until ice cold. The tea should feel thoroughly cold before you pour it into glasses.

Fill glasses with ice, pour in the chilled tea, and serve right away. The drink should taste cold and fragrant, with berry flavor against the black tea.

If desired, use whole frozen strawberries in place of ice and finish with fresh strawberries or optional mint. The berries add color, while mint gives each glass a fresh aroma.