Chestnut Free Herbal Arnold Palmer with Fresh Herbs
This drink is the ultimate warm-weather refresher — a fragrant, garden-fresh twist on the classic half-and-half that feels a little fancy without requiring much effort at all. Black tea gets steeped together with fresh mint and basil, plus an optional touch of culinary lavender, so every sip carries this beautifully layered herbal depth that plain iced tea simply can't match. The homemade simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice bring everything into balance, keeping it bright and tart without tipping into cloying sweetness. Because every component is made from scratch using whole, straightforward ingredients, there's no need to scan labels or second-guess what's hiding in a store-bought mix. Tree nuts and chestnuts have no place in this glass — it's naturally free of them by design, not by workaround. Pile the ice high, pour equal parts herbal tea and lemonade, and finish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel for a drink that looks as good as it tastes.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!