Cinnamon Free Herbal Arnold Palmer with Fresh Herbs
This garden-fresh twist on a classic half-and-half drink is bright, floral, and genuinely refreshing — the kind of thing you want to sip on a warm afternoon with absolutely no fuss. Mint and basil steep right alongside the black tea bags, pulling out layers of herbal flavor that feel sophisticated without being fussy. A quick homemade simple syrup keeps the sweetness clean and balanced, while fresh-squeezed lemon juice gives the lemonade side a sharp, sunny lift. For anyone avoiding warming spices, this is a dream — every ingredient is straightforward, and there's no hidden spice blend or flavored syrup to second-guess. The optional lavender adds a soft floral note if you're feeling fancy, but the drink is completely lovely without it. Poured over ice with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, it looks like something from a nice restaurant and tastes even better.
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!