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If you love sweet tea and lemonade, an Arnold Palmer iced tea is the perfect refreshing drink for summer.
This classic beverage combines homemade iced tea with fresh lemonade for a sweet, tangy, and incredibly refreshing drink that’s perfect for hot afternoons, backyard BBQs, summer cookouts, picnics, and porch sitting.
An Arnold Palmer is simple to make with just a handful of ingredients and tastes so much better homemade.
You can easily adjust the sweetness, use fresh lemons, and make a big pitcher for summer gatherings.
If you enjoy refreshing summer drinks, be sure to visit my Summer Drinks and Summer Iced Tea pages for more homemade favorites.
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What Is an Arnold Palmer?
An Arnold Palmer is a refreshing drink made by combining iced tea and lemonade.
Traditionally, it’s made with equal parts of both, but you can easily adjust the ratio depending on whether you prefer it sweeter, more tart, or more tea-forward.
The drink became popular thanks to golfer Arnold Palmer, who famously ordered the refreshing combination.
More Summer Drinks You’ll Love
You might also enjoy:
- Classic Sweet Tea
- How to Make Sun Tea
- Iced Green Tea
- Peach Lemonade
- Blackberry Lemonade
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Blueberry Lavender Lemonade
- Southern Peach Sweet Tea
Arnold Palmer Iced Tea Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6–8
Ingredients
For the Sweet Tea
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
- ½ to ¾ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
For the Lemonade
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 5–6 lemons)
- 3 cups cold water
- ½ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
For Serving
- Ice
- Lemon slices
- Fresh mint (optional)
How to Make Arnold Palmer Iced Tea
Brew the Tea
Bring 4 cups water to a boil.
Remove from heat and add tea bags. Let steep for 5–7 minutes, depending on desired strength.
Remove tea bags and stir in sugar while warm until dissolved. Let cool.
Make the Lemonade
In a pitcher, whisk together:
- Fresh lemon juice
- Cold water
- Sugar
Stir until sugar dissolves completely.
Combine
Pour the cooled sweet tea into a large pitcher and add the lemonade.
Stir well to combine.
Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
Chill & Serve
Refrigerate until cold.
Serve over ice with fresh lemon slices and mint if desired.
Tips for the Best Arnold Palmer
- Use fresh lemons: Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor.
- Adjust sweetness: Make it sweeter or more tart to fit your taste.
- Change the ratio: Try more tea for a less sweet drink or more lemonade for extra citrus flavor.
- Make ahead: Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Fun Variations
Peach Arnold Palmer
Add peach syrup or fresh peach slices for a fruity twist.
Blackberry Arnold Palmer
Mix in blackberry puree or syrup for summer flavor.
Mint Arnold Palmer
Add fresh mint leaves for a cooling garden-inspired drink.
Sparkling Arnold Palmer
Top with sparkling water for a fizzy version.
This refreshing homemade Arnold Palmer iced tea is perfect for summer holidays, BBQs, cookouts, picnics, porch sitting, and simple homemade living. One sip and you’ll see why it’s a timeless summer favorite!
If you love homemade drinks and refreshing summer recipes, don’t miss my Summer Drinks page.
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
- ½ to ¾ cup sugar adjust to taste
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice about 5–6 lemons
- 3 cups cold water
- ½ cup sugar adjust to taste
- Ice
- Lemon slices
- Fresh mint optional
-
Bring 4 cups water to a boil.
-
Remove from heat and add tea bags. Let steep for 5–7 minutes, depending on desired strength.
-
Remove tea bags and stir in sugar while warm until dissolved. Let cool.
-
In a pitcher, whisk together:
-
Fresh lemon juice
-
Cold water
-
Sugar
-
Stir until sugar dissolves completely.
-
Pour the cooled sweet tea into a large pitcher and add the lemonade.
-
Stir well to combine.
-
Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
-
Refrigerate until cold.
Follow my summer drinks board on Pinterest.
