Macadamia Free Herbal Arnold Palmer with Fresh Herbs
This garden-fresh twist on a classic half-and-half drink is bright, floral, and genuinely refreshing in a way that store-bought versions just can't touch. Steeping black tea with fresh mint, basil, and optional culinary lavender gives the base a layered herbal depth that pairs beautifully with the tartness of freshly squeezed lemon juice. A quick homemade simple syrup ties everything together with just the right amount of sweetness — no mystery additives, no hidden allergens, just clean pantry staples. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of tree nuts, so there's zero need to scrutinize labels or worry about cross-contact from shared processing facilities. The result is a tall, ice-filled glass that looks stunning with a sprig of mint and a lemon slice, and tastes like something you'd order at a fancy brunch spot. It's the kind of drink that makes a regular afternoon feel like a little occasion.
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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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