Legume 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 genuinely special without requiring much effort. Steeping black tea alongside fresh mint and basil pulls out layers of herbal flavor that no bottled mix could ever replicate, and the optional lavender adds a floral note that makes it feel almost spa-like. A quick homemade simple syrup ties everything together with just the right touch of sweetness, while the bright, tart lemonade keeps it lively and balanced. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of legumes, so there's nothing to scrutinize on a label or swap out — just fresh produce, pantry staples, and good tea. The result is a tall, ice-cold glass that looks stunning with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice perched on the rim, making it as impressive to serve as it is easy to drink.
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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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