Step 1

Boil the water. In a medium saucepan or kettle, bring 4 cups of boiling water to a boil.

Step 2

Steep the tea. Remove from heat, add the tea bags and sprinkle in the baking soda. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes to make a strong iced tea concentrate.

Step 3

Sweeten it. Remove the tea bags and pour the hot concentrate into a large pitcher. Stir in the sugar until fully dissolved, creating a rich sweet tea syrup.

Step 4

Add cold water. Stir in the remaining cold water.

Step 5

Chill and serve. Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold. Serve over ice with a slice of lemon and fresh mint leaves if desired.