In a saucepan, bring half of the water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add tea bags. Allow the tea bags to steep for 10 minutes.
Remove the tea bags from the water. Note: If you prefer sweet tea, add the sugar or your preferred sweetener to the tea while it’s still hot and stir until dissolved.
Add the remaining water to the tea. Leave it refrigerated until fully chilled (about an hour).
Serve with ice, lemon slices, and fresh mint if desired.