Honey Free Classic Arnold Palmer
Few drinks are as satisfying as a tall, ice-cold Arnold Palmer on a warm afternoon — that perfect balance of bold black tea and bright, tangy lemonade is genuinely hard to beat. Many store-bought versions and premixed blends sneak in honey or other sweeteners, so making it from scratch is the cleanest way to know exactly what's in your glass. Here, a quick homemade simple syrup made with just granulated sugar and water does all the sweetening, keeping the flavor crisp and completely free of any bee-derived ingredients. Fresh lemon juice is the real star of the lemonade side — squeeze it yourself and you get that vivid, tart brightness that bottled juice just can't replicate. Steeping the tea bags without squeezing them is a small but smart move that keeps any bitterness out of the final drink. Everything comes together in one pitcher, making this just as easy to batch up for a crowd as it is to mix for yourself on a lazy afternoon. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint and it looks like something you'd pay way too much for at a café.
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Learn more →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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