1. Boil the Water for Tea: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat.

2. Steep the Tea: Add the black tea bags to the hot water. Allow them to steep for 5-7 minutes. For a stronger tea flavor, you can steep for a full 7 minutes; for a milder taste, steep for 5. The water should turn a deep amber color, indicating the tea is fully steeped.

3. Remove Tea Bags and Sweeten: Carefully remove the tea bags from the saucepan, gently squeezing out any excess liquid. Discard the tea bags. Stir in the granulated sugar until it is completely dissolved. Taste and add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter tea.

4. Combine with Apple Cider: Pour the steeped, sweetened tea into a large pitcher or serving carafe. Add the 4 cups of apple cider to the pitcher and stir well to combine. The mixture should have a rich, warm brown color.

5. Chill Thoroughly: Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and chill for at least 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture is thoroughly cooled. For best results, chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the tea to become refreshingly cold.

6. Serve Over Ice: Fill glasses with plenty of ice. Pour the chilled apple cider iced tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh lemon slice and a few apple slices, if desired, for an extra touch of fall charm.