Sweet, refreshing, and made entirely from pantry staples, this classic Southern-style iced tea is the kind of drink that disappears fast on a warm afternoon. For anyone avoiding citric acid, store-bought teas and bottled beverages can be a minefield — many commercial blends sneak in citric acid as a preservative or flavor enhancer, making homemade the far safer route. Here, it's just water, black tea bags, and sugar, so you know exactly what's going into every glass. Steeping the bags without squeezing them keeps the brew smooth and mellow rather than bitter, and dissolving the sugar while the tea is still hot ensures a perfectly even sweetness throughout. The lemon slices listed as a garnish are entirely optional, so you can skip them without losing anything if citrus is also a concern. This is the kind of recipe you'll come back to all summer long — simple, satisfying, and completely on your terms.
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Bring 4 cups of the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them.
While the tea is still hot, add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved, about 1 minute.
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