Description
A delightful Arnold Palmer recipe, blending classic iced tea with fresh lemonade. Simple to make, perfectly sweet and tart for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 tea bags
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 1.5 cups cold water
- Ice
- Lemon slices
- Fresh mint
Instructions
1. In a small pot or kettle, bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and add your 2 tea bags. Let the tea steep for the amount of time recommended on the tea package instructions (usually 3-5 minutes for black tea). Be careful not to over-steep, or your tea might become bitter.
2. After steeping, carefully remove the tea bags. Transfer the brewed tea to a heat-safe container, like a measuring cup or jar, and place it in the fridge. It’s super important for the tea to cool completely before mixing. Warm tea can make your drink cloudy and affect its fresh taste. This cooling step is key for a truly refreshing iced tea and lemonade recipe.
3. While the tea is chilling, grab your fresh lemons! Squeeze enough lemons to get about 1 cup of bright, fresh lemon juice. Using fresh juice makes a huge difference in the vibrant, tart flavor of your homemade lemonade.
4. In a large pitcher (at least 6-8 cup capacity), pour in your 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. This forms the zesty foundation of your lemonade iced tea.
5. Add 1 cup of your cooled simple syrup to the pitcher with the lemon juice. Simple syrup mixes easily and ensures the sweetness is perfectly and evenly spread throughout your lemonade.
6. Now, add 1 ½ cups of cold water to the pitcher with the lemon juice and simple syrup. Stir everything very well until it’s all combined and your lemonade base is perfectly balanced and ready.
7. Once your brewed tea has completely cooled (it should be cold to the touch), pour it into the pitcher with the lemonade. Stir everything together one last time to fully combine the iced tea and lemonade, creating that classic Arnold Palmer blend.
8. Fill your glasses with plenty of ice. Pour your delicious homemade iced tea and lemonade over the ice. For an extra touch of flair and freshness, garnish each glass with a bright lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint.
9. Take a sip and revel in the perfectly balanced sweet and tart flavors of your homemade iced tea and lemonade. Cheers to a refreshing drink!
Notes
Fresh ingredients are key for the best flavor. Ensure tea is completely chilled before mixing to avoid cloudiness. Adjust sweetness to your liking. Can substitute simple syrup with honey or agave. Experiment with different tea types (green, hibiscus, herbal) or add muddled fresh berries, sparkling water, infused simple syrups (rosemary, lavender), extra mint, spices (cinnamon, cloves), or ginger for variations. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days; best when fresh. Can store tea and lemonade base separately for maximum freshness.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Iced Tea and Lemonade Recipe, Arnold Palmer, lemonade iced tea, refreshing drink, homemade lemonade, summer drink, sweet tea lemonade, simple syrup, lemon juice, tea recipe