Spice Free Herbal Arnold Palmer with Fresh Herbs
This refreshing twist on a classic half-and-half drink swaps out any heat or spice for a fragrant, herb-forward blend that feels both sophisticated and completely approachable. Black tea gets steeped alongside fresh mint and basil, pulling out bright, garden-fresh flavor without a single peppercorn or chili in sight — making it a genuinely easy choice for anyone keeping spice well off the table. The lavender is entirely optional, so you can dial the floral notes up or down depending on your mood. A quick homemade simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice round everything out into a lemonade side that's tart, sweet, and totally clean. Pouring the two over ice and letting them meet in the glass is one of those small kitchen moments that feels a little fancy for almost zero effort. Serve it at a summer gathering or just make a pitcher for yourself on a warm afternoon — either way, the fresh mint garnish makes it look like you really tried.
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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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