Start with 4 cups of fresh, cold filtered or spring water in a teapot or pan. Bring it to a boil and then pour it over 5 tea bags tied together in a heatproof pitcher. Allow the tea to steep for an hour, and then remove the bags, squeezing gently.

(For “sweet tea,” add sugar or other sweetener like Stevia to taste, stirring until it dissolves.)

Add two additional cups of fresh, cold water, cover, and chill, or add ice cubes to serve right away.

Pour into a tall glass with more cubes, add a lemon wedge or sprig of fresh mint, and enjoy.

Although using solar power to brew tea is popular in the summer months, the Centers for Disease Control advises against it. Sun tea is a good medium for bacteria to grow in.