Iced Tea Lemonade (Arnold Palmer Drink)
Iced Tea Lemonade, also known as an Arnold Palmer Drink is a non-alcoholic beverage made by mixing half lemonade and half iced tea together. It’s sweet, tangy, refreshing and perfect for hot summer days! It tastes like a tangy sweet tea and you’ll be in love with it! This homemade lemonade is made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, cane sugar, and black tea! All you need are 4 ingredients and 20 minutes!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
This drink has a bold tea flavor and it’s mixed with bright and tangy homemade lemonade. The quality of the ingredients matters, so use your favorite strong black tea and make the lemonade from scratch instead of using store-bought frozen lemonade or powered mixes, you’ll definitely taste the difference!
Iced tea and lemonade are such classic, refreshing drinks all on their own but together? They taste incredible. A classic Arnold Palmer is made with lemonade and unsweetened iced tea. I added the sugar to the black tea after it had brewed but while it was still hot so that it would dissolve more easily. If you want, create a simple syrup with a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar then add that to the lemonade after it cools. Whichever works for you. The taste will be pretty much the same either way!
Recipe Ingredients
Black tea – two black tea bags. I used English Breakfast black tea but Lipton black tea is delicious too. The brand of tea doesn’t really matter all that much, you just want a strong black tea without any other flavorings or additives. I wouldn’t use Earl Grey tea because it’s mixed with Bergamont oil which will give a different flavor than just plain black tea.
Sugar – White granulated sugar or cane sugar. You could also use honey as a healthier alternative.
Lemon – Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. It will taste soooo much better than using store-bought juice or a powdered lemonade mix. You’ll need about 5 – 6 large lemons. We love to use a manual citrus juicer so that this process is much quicker.
Garnish – Lemon slices and fresh mint.
How to Make Iced Tea Lemonade
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Start by steeping the black tea in a pitcher, large mason jar or measuring cup for 10 minutes. Next, discard the tea bags then stir in sugar until dissolved. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- Once the iced tea has cooled stir in freshly squeezed lemon juice and the rest of the water.
- Serve over ice with lemon slices or fresh mint. Enjoy!
Variations
Use a different tea. Arnold Palmers are made with black tea, but iced green tea would taste amazing as well!
Switch up the ratios. Half lemonade and half iced tea is standard but who doesn’t love to mix things up? Use ⅓ lemonade and ⅔ iced tea or the other way around. Since we added the sugar to the sweet tea you might end up with a sweeter or more tart drink depending on the ratio you choose to go with.
More tart or sweet? Add more lemon juice if you want a more tart drink or add more sugar if you want it sweeter.
Make a Winnie Palmer. This drink is named after Arnold Palmer’s first wife Winnie. It’s a mix of sweetened iced tea and lemonade. Make a simple syrup to add to the lemonade then mix sugar with the hot tea. Allow everything to cool then mix together to serve over ice.
Tips and Tricks
Skip the simple syrup. Simple syrups are convenient if you are making regular lemonade, but since we have to brew the tea to make iced tea I find it so much easier to just mix the sugar with the tea than making a simple syrup on top of that. If you already have a simple syrup on hand, only add 1 extra cup of water to your iced tea lemonade instead of 2.
Brew the tea for less time. If you want a weaker iced tea simply brew the tea for 3 – 5 minutes or whatever is on your package instructions. I love a stronger tea so I brew it for 10 minutes before discarding the tea bags.
Frequently Asked Questions —
This classic drink is named after famous golfer Arnold Palmer who loved to enjoy unsweetened iced tea with lemonade after playing golf.
Of course! Use double or even triple of all the ingredients if you are making drinks for a crowd!
Looking For More Recipes?
Click here to subscribe to The Midwest Kitchen Blog’s Newsletter for recipes straight to your inbox!
If you love this recipe, pin it to Pinterest for later or share it on Instagram by tagging me (@themidwestkitchenblog).
Don’t forget to leave this recipe a 5-star rating!
Have a blessed day!
Iced Tea Lemonade (Arnold Palmer Drink)
Equipment
- Electric kettle or medium-sized pot to heat the water for the iced tea
Ingredients
- 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons of black loose leaf tea
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice 5 – 6 lemons, freshly squeezed
- 2 cups cold water
- Ice for serving
Optional
- Lemon slices for garnish
- Fresh mint leaves for garnich
Instructions
- Brew black tea bags with 2 cups of boiling hot water in a pitcher or mason jar. Cover with a lid then let the tea steep for 10 minutes(if you want a weaker iced tea steep only for 3 – 5 minutes or according to your package instructions).
- Discard the tea bags then stir in the sugar until it has completely dissolved. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature or transfer it to the refrigerator to speed up this process.
- Once the tea has cooled, pour the tea into a pitcher with freshly squeezed lemon juice and the rest of the water.
- Stir everything together then serve chilled with ice and lemon slices. Enjoy!
Notes
Storage Instructions
Keep iced tea lemonade covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze into ice cubes to add to tea or lemonade for the future!Variations
Use a different tea. Arnold Palmers are made with black tea, but iced green tea would taste amazing as well! Switch up the ratios. Half lemonade and half iced tea is standard but who doesn’t love to mix things up? Use ⅓ lemonade and ⅔ iced tea or the other way around. Since we added the sugar to the sweet tea you might end up with a sweeter or less sweet drink depending on the ratio you chose to go with. More tart or sweet? Add more lemon juice if you want a more tart drink or add more sugar if you want it sweeter. Make a Winnie Palmer. This drink is named after Arnold Palmer’s first wife Winnie. It’s a mix of sweetened iced tea and lemonade. Make a simple syrup to add to the lemonade then mix in sugar in the hot tea. Allow everything to cool then mix together to serve over ice.Nutrition
All nutrition information is automatically generated and should be only used as a rough estimate. This recipe card may contain affiliate links.
