I am simply shocked and aghast at all this open talk of tea-bagging. And on a family forum like the internet. ::swoons::
Good God! Have none of you people heard of tea pots?!? What is all this business of forks and spoons (sorry, Spoons, nothing personal 
).
Teapot, 1.
Boiling water, 1 splash to warm the pot.
Dump water.
Tea in pot (preferably loose tea, but I’m willing to make a grudging concession to modernity : tea bags if you must.
More lovely boiling hot water fresh from the kettle, which you’ve kept boiling while warming the teapot.
Tea gives up its lovely liquor - “Le mort du thé”
Steep. Patience.
Only at this stage do we introduce a cup: pour steaming hot tea and have a nice cuppa.
Forks to make tea, forsooth!
You talked me into it. I’m getting a teapot. Asap.
That’s more like it!
I personally fancy the cobalt blue “brown Betty”. Accessorise with a tea strainer and a tea cosy.