This classic Arnold Palmer Drink is a refreshing combination of unsweetened iced tea and homemade lemonade. It is one of my favorite summer beverages, perfect for pool parties, patio and deck parties, and picnics. You don’t have to be on the golf course to enjoy this refreshing beverage.
What is an Arnold Palmer Drink?
The Arnold Palmer drink is a refreshing blend of fresh brewed iced tea and lemonade. Learn how to make this classic beverage at home for a refreshing summer treat. Grab a glass, pull up a chair, and reminisce for a while.
Hubby and I love to have an assortment of quick and easy summer drink recipes on hand for when friends drop by. If you like this recipe, try blueberry lemonade, peach iced tea, blueberry lemonade, and strawberry lemonade.
Ingredients Needed
- Tea bags: I like to use black tea like English breakfast or Irish breakfast
- Granulated sugar: for your desired sweetness
- Lemons: for juicing and garnish
How to Make an Arnold Palmer Drink
Start by brewing some fresh tea. Let it cool for a bit and then refrigerate for several hours up to overnight. Fill a small saucepan with about 2 cups water and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a low boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Then, remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
Add the lemon juice, stirring to combine, and refrigerate for several hours. Now fill a pitcher (or glasses) with ice and pour equal parts tea and lemonade into the pitcher. Feel free to adjust the amounts to taste. If desired, add lemon slices or mint leaves to the pitcher and glasses.
Preparation Tips
- Though you can make this with any tea, black tea is my preferred choice for the Arnie Palmer.
- For a spiked Arnold Palmer, add a couple of ounces of alcohol like gin, vodka, rum, or bourbon. Vodka is the most popular choice, making it a John Daly cocktail.
- The simple syrup can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
- This is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, but if you want a sweeter drink, use sweet tea.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can use prepared bottled lemonade or lemonade made from frozen concentrate. It is entirely up to you and your busy schedule. I have done it both ways, and even though I prefer the fresh lemonade in my Arnold Palmer, both are delicious. There is also the added advantage that bottled lemonade and lemonade concentrate have a longer life.
The classic drink and the way the late great golfer liked it was with about 75% tea and 25% lemonade. But as the drink became more and more popular, the split became more half iced tea and half lemonade. However, the correct ratio is up to you and your taste buds. I like mine more along the halfway split, but as my late Mother used to say, “Different strokes for different folks.”
More Refreshing Beverages
Arnold Palmer Drink
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3 tea bags
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ice
- thin lemon slices optional
Instructions
- Bring 3 cups water to a boil and add tea bags. Remove from the heat and let the tea steep for 5 minutes. Let cool a bit, then refrigerate for several hours up to overnight.
- Add 2 cups water and sugar to a saucepan. Simmer until the sugar dissolves, stirring several times. Let cool to room temperature. Stir in the lemon juice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Add both the tea and the lemonade to a pitcher. Add lemon slices and stir to combine. Fill glasses with ice and lemon slices before pouring the tea. If serving by the glass without a pitcher, add ice and lemon slices to a glass and pour a 50/50 mixture. Garnish with fresh lemon slices.
Notes
- Though you can make this with any tea, black tea is my preferred choice for the Arnie Palmer.
- For a spiked Arnold Palmer, add a couple of ounces of alcohol like gin, vodka, rum, or bourbon. Vodka is by far the most popular choice making it a John Daly cocktail.
- The simple syrup can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
- I think this is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, but if you want a sweeter drink, use sweet tea.
Nutrition
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Desiree
Thank you for actually providing a recipe rather than just saying “mix premade lemonade and iced tea together and serve over ice” I’m lazy, but not quite that lazy, lol! Great recipe and suggestions for serving variations.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Desiree! So glad that you liked it.
Kimberlee Nelson
Arnold Palmer ice tea.question.
Dumb question…After steeping the tea for 5 min. Do you remove the tea bags during the cooling and over night process or leave them in?
Beth Pierce
Remove them please! It is not a dumb question.
Monica B
You’ve really nailed the essence of the Arnold Palmer drink with this recipe! The ratio of tea to lemonade is spot-on, and your suggestion to adjust it according to personal preference is a great touch. I also love the idea of adding a splash of alcohol for a spiked version – it’s a fun twist for those who want to jazz it up a bit. Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Monica!
Astrid
Interesting! I love lemonade and cold tea, but I had never mixed them together until now. It looks like this will be our new favorite drink this summer.
Mary Lou
Love this drink! It is the best of both worlds. Word of caution though! You will be hooked!
Predrag K
This drink is perfect for spring and summer – refreshing, simple to whip up, just the right amount of caffeine, and totally satisfying!
Beth Pierce
My thoughts exactly!