Few drinks capture the spirit of a long, lazy afternoon quite like a tall glass of sweet iced tea. This classic Southern version is built on just three pantry staples — water, black tea bags, and sugar — making it naturally free of grains, gluten-containing additives, and anything that might sneak rye into your glass. That simplicity is part of its charm, and it means you know exactly what you're drinking without having to squint at a label. The technique here is smart: steeping the bags without squeezing them keeps the brew smooth and mellow rather than bitter, and dissolving the sugar into the hot concentrate ensures every sip is evenly sweet from top to bottom. Once it's chilled and poured over a mountain of ice, you can dress it up with lemon slices and fresh mint for a little extra brightness. It's the kind of drink that works equally well for a backyard cookout or a quiet evening on the porch.
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Bring 4 cups of water to a full boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them — squeezing releases bitter tannins.
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