Begin by bringing 1 cup of filtered water to a gentle simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once simmering, add about 5 fresh sage leaves, allowing them to infuse their aromatic essence into the water. Let the sage steep for 5 minutes.

After steeping, stir in 1 cup of fresh or frozen blackberries, and increase the heat slightly to return to a gentle simmer. As the mixture bubbles, use a wooden spoon to mash the blackberries against the sides of the pan, releasing their juices and turning the water into a beautiful purple hue. This process should take about 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from heat and carefully strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof container. Stir in your choice of maple syrup to taste, followed by the juice of half a lemon. Then, add 1 cup of cold water to dilute the tea.

Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour. If you prefer a bolder flavor, let it chill longer.

Once chilled, fill your glasses with ice cubes and gently pour the chilled Blackberry Sage Iced Tea over the ice.

For a beautiful presentation, garnish with extra blackberries, fresh sage leaves, or lemon slices.