Description
The perfect Arnold Palmer is a refreshing blend of iced tea and lemonade that’s easy to make at home. This classic drink is perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and incredibly thirst-quenching. Named after the legendary golfer, it’s the ultimate beverage for hot days!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups water (divided)
- 4 black tea bags (or 4 teaspoons loose leaf tea)
- ¼ to ½ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 6–8 lemons)
- 2 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices for garnish
- Fresh mint for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan or kettle.
- Remove from heat and add tea bags. Steep for 5-7 minutes for a strong brew.
- Remove tea bags and stir in sugar while the tea is still warm, stirring until completely dissolved.
- Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold (or place in an ice bath to speed up cooling).
- While tea is cooling, juice the lemons and strain out seeds and pulp.
- In a pitcher, combine the lemon juice with 2 cups of cold water and stir well. Taste and add more water if too tart.
- Fill tall glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour half iced tea and half lemonade into each glass (about ½ cup each per serving).
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the tea-to-lemonade ratio to your preference. Start with 50/50 and customize from there.
- For a stronger tea flavor, use 5-6 tea bags or let steep longer.
- Simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved) can replace granulated sugar for easier mixing.
- Store brewed tea and lemonade separately in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, then mix individual servings as needed.
- For a sugar-free version, use your preferred sugar substitute.
- Make tea ice cubes to prevent dilution as the ice melts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Brewing, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (1 cup)
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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