Cashew Free Herbal Arnold Palmer with Fresh Herbs
This drink is the ultimate warm-weather refresher — a fragrant, herb-forward twist on the classic half-and-half that feels genuinely special without requiring any fancy equipment. Black tea gets steeped together with fresh mint and basil, plus an optional hit of culinary lavender, creating a floral, aromatic base that's miles more interesting than plain iced tea. Bright, freshly squeezed lemon juice and a quick homemade simple syrup bring the lemonade side into balance, so every sip is tart, sweet, and herby all at once. Everything here is made from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients — no store-bought mixes, no mystery additives, and absolutely nothing to second-guess if you're navigating nut-free needs. The herb-infused tea is strained clean before it ever hits the pitcher, so you get a beautifully clear, jewel-toned drink that looks as good as it tastes. Serve it over a tall glass of ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel, and it's instantly the most impressive thing on the table.
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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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