Place the sliced strawberries in a bowl and gently mash them with a muddler or the back of a fork until slightly broken down and juicy.
Bring water to a boil in a tea kettle or saucepan, then remove from heat. Steep the black tea bags in the hot water for 5 minutes until the brew is strong and aromatic.
Remove the tea bags and add the mashed strawberries along with honey (if using) into the hot tea. Stir gently to combine and allow the mixture to infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Strain the infused tea through a fine sieve or strainer into a pitcher or serving glasses, pressing lightly to extract maximum flavor from the strawberries. Discard the solids.
Pour the strained beverage into glasses and serve immediately, garnished with a fresh strawberry slice if desired. The drink should appear vibrant red with visible pulp and a fragrant aroma of tea and strawberries.