Citric Acid Free Classic Arnold Palmer

Total time45 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

5.0

(29)

Few drinks are as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea and lemonade swirled together, and this homemade version is the real deal. For anyone avoiding citric acid — the synthetic kind that shows up in bottled drinks, mixes, and store-bought lemonade — this recipe is a genuine find, because the tartness here comes entirely from freshly squeezed lemons rather than any additive. A quick homemade simple syrup keeps the sweetness clean and controllable, so you can dial the balance exactly to your taste. The tea is steeped gently and cooled before combining, which gives the final drink that smooth, mellow backbone that makes an Arnold Palmer so satisfying. Everything comes together in one pitcher, making it easy to batch for a crowd or just keep in the fridge for yourself. Poured over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it looks as good as it tastes.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the tea

4 cups water, divided
4 black tea bags

For the lemonade

½ cup granulated sugar
2 cup water
¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)

For serving

ice, for serving
lemon slices, for serving (optional)
fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, add the 4 tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them, then stir in the remaining 2 cups of cold water. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
2
While the tea cools, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in the saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved and the syrup is clear, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

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