Carrageenan Free Herbal Arnold Palmer with Fresh Herbs
This refreshing twist on a classic half-and-half drink layers fragrant mint and basil into the tea base alongside black tea bags, giving every sip a garden-fresh depth that bottled versions simply can't match. Speaking of bottled drinks — many store-bought teas, lemonades, and flavored beverages sneak in carrageenan as a stabilizer or emulsifier, making it genuinely tricky to find a safe ready-made option. Here, every ingredient is straightforward and whole: fresh herbs, real lemon juice, sugar, and water, with nothing processed or hidden in the mix. The homemade simple syrup keeps the sweetness smooth and balanced, while the bright acidity of freshly squeezed lemons cuts right through the floral, herby tea. Optional dried lavender adds a subtle aromatic note that makes this feel almost spa-like without any extra effort. Served over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it's the kind of drink that looks impressive enough for a backyard gathering but is genuinely easy to pull together at home.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the herbal tea
- 4 cups water, divided
- 3 black tea bags
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
- 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender (optional)
For the simple syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
For the lemonade
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)
- 1 ½ cups cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 2 cups of the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, mint leaves, basil leaves, and dried lavender (if using), and steep for 5 minutes.
- 2
Remove and discard the tea bags. Strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the herbs gently to extract their liquid, then discard the solids. Stir in the remaining 2 cups of cold water and let the tea cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
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