Arnold Palmer Drink (Sweet Tea)

Arnold Palmer Drink (also called Arnold Palmer Iced Tea, Iced Tea Lemonade and Sweet Tea) is a simple blend of iced tea and lemonade.  It’s delicious and refreshing, and it makes a fun non-alcoholic drink to serve during warm summer months!

This Arnold Palmer Iced Tea recipe is a quick and easy one to make, especially if you already have fresh squeezed lemonade on hand.

The first time I ever had an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea was years ago when I had  lunch with a co-worker.  He ordered an Arnold Palmer drink…I said I’d have the same (thinking I give something new a try), and I’ve been hooked ever since.  Even if I go to a restaurant with self-serve drinks, I’ll fill my glass with iced tea (preferable green tea) then a splash of lemonade.  It’s so good!! When I was in Franklin, Tennessee a couple of years ago, I ordered an iced tea lemonade, and the waitress said, “you mean a sweet tea?”.  But if you order the same thing here in California, the waitress will say, “you mean an Arnold Palmer?”.   

What is an Arnold Palmer

Why is this drink called an “Arnold Palmer”?  An “Arnold Palmer” is a non-alcoholic drink that’s named after a famous pro golfer Arnold Palmer who won 62 PGA tours between 1955 and 1973.  He used to order iced tea lemonade (a mixture of iced tea and lemonade) at golf clubs, so due to his fame this refreshing concoction was named after him. Arnold Palmer passed away in 2016 but the name of his favorite drink is still as popular as ever!

Arnold Palmer Recipe

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this Arnold Palmer Iced Tea (sweet tea). Iced tea and lemonade. But it’s the ratio of each that’s important.

• Black tea bags. We use Lipton tea for this recipe, but you can use your favorite black tea if you like.
• Water. You’ll need it to simmer the tea bags in.
• Lemonade.  We use homemade Lemonade made with fresh lemon juice and honey (you can use granulated sugar if you like). You could use store-bought lemonade, but homemade lemonade tastes superior and you also have control of the amount of sweetness added. If you buy store-bought lemonade, choose one that uses natural ingredients without any artificial flavoring or coloring. 
• Ice. Use regular ice or these Arnold Palmer Ice Cubes (so your tea won’t get diluted with regular water ice cubes).
• Garnish. We use lemon slices and fresh mint to garnish with.

How to Make Arnold Palmer Iced Tea

If you’ve ever wondered how to make sweet tea (a southern classic) it’s so easy, and if you already have homemade lemonade ready – even better.

• Fresh Squeezed Lemonade.  Fill glass 1/2 full (or 1/2 cup) with lemonade.
• Iced Tea.  Fill the glass 1/2 full (or 1/2 cup) with iced tea.
• Ice.  Add ice and enjoy. 
• Garnish.  Add lemon slices and mint leaves (optional).

Variations

• If you don’t have homemade fresh squeezed lemonade on hand, you can use a store bought lemonade like Simply Lemonade or Newmans Own, etc (found in the refrigerated section at the market).
• Use green tea, decaffeinated tea, or your favorite tea instead of black tea.
• Personally, I prefer a 75/25 ratio mix.  Fill the glass 3/4 full of iced tea and 1/4 full of lemonade.  Less sugar.  Less sweet.  But still refreshing and tasty!  Use whatever ratio you like best.
• Want to heat things up? Add 1 habanero chili sliced to the water while it simmers, then add the tea bags to steep together.
• Swap out regular lemonade and use Strawberry Lemonade instead.

How to Make Iced Tea

When I was growing up my best friend’s mom made a pitcher of Lipton ice tea every morning to drink throughout the day.  Every time I make a pitcher of iced tea to use for Arnold Palmers, I think of her.  When I make Arnold Palmers at home, I’ll either use green tea, or Lipton ice tea for its classic taste.

• Boil water:  Fill tea kettle or pot with cold water and heat to a simmer just before boiling then remove from heat.
• Tea bags:  Add tea bags to hot water.  
• Discard tea bags: Remove tea bags from tea and discard.
• Refrigerate:  After steeped tea has cooled, pour into a glass pitcher and refrigerate before serving.
• Serve:  Serve chilled iced tea over ice and enjoy.  Rather than serving over plain water ice cubes, try these Arnold Palmer Ice Cubes instead.

How Long to Steep Tea

Looking for More Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Make?

If you love this sweet tea recipe, here are a few more healthy tea recipes to quench your thirst!

• Iced Coffee Flavored Water
• Iced Lemon Mint Green Tea
• Blueberry Lemonade
• Virgin Mojito
• Watermelon Agua Fresca
• Easy Homemade Limeade
• Pink Lemonade
• Strawberry Lemonade
• White Grape Spritzer
• Hibiscus Tea Recipe
• Iced Orange Ginger Green Tea
• Blueberry Green Tea
• Fruit Infused Turmeric Tea
• Sparkling Blackberry Mint Spritzer

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Yield: 8 servings

Arnold Palmer Drink

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Arnold Palmer Drink (also called Arnold Palmer Iced Tea, Iced Tea Lemonade and Sweet Tea) is a simple blend of iced tea and lemonade.  It's delicious and refreshing, and it makes a fun non-alcoholic drink to serve during warm summer months!

Ingredients

For the Iced Tea

• 8 cups water, divided
• 6-8 tea bags (or more depending on how strong you like your tea)

For the Lemonade

• 8 cups water, divided
• 1-1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1-1/2 cup raw honey

Instructions

For the Iced Tea

1. Pour 7 cups of water into a pot and bring to a boil
2. Remove from heat and add tea bags
3. Steep for 1-3 minutes
4. Remove tea bags
5. Allow to cool at room temperature, then pour into glass pitcher and refrigerate

For the Lemonade

1. Combine 1 cup water with honey in a blender, and pulse to combine and dissolve the honey in the water.
2. Juice lemons, removing the seeds.
3. Pour the lemon juice with pulp in a large glass pitcher.
4. Stir in the honey syrup and 7 cups water.
5. Chill in refrigerator before serving.

Assemble

1. Fill glass 1/2 full (or 1 cup) with lemonade.
2. Fill the glass 1/2 full (or 1 cup) with iced tea.
3. Add ice and enjoy. 
4. Add lemon slices and mint leaves (optional).

Notes

Variations

• If you don't have homemade fresh squeezed lemonade on hand, you can use a store bought lemonade like Simply Lemonade or Newmans Own, etc (found in the refrigerated section at the market).
• Use green tea, decaffeinated tea, or your favorite tea instead of black tea.
• Personally, I prefer a 75/25 ratio mix.  Fill the glass 3/4 full of iced tea and 1/4 full of lemonade.  Less sugar.  Less sweet.  But still refreshing and tasty!  Use whatever ratio you like best.
• Want to heat things up? Add 1 habanero chili sliced to the water while it simmers, then add the tea bags to steep together.
• Swap out regular lemonade and use Strawberry Lemonade instead.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 271Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 74gFiber: 0gSugar: 71gProtein: 0g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations.