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Arnold Palmer Recipe: The Perfect Tea & Lemonade Ratio

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Legend has it that golfer Arnold Palmer ordered this drink at a country club in Palm Springs in the 1960s, a woman nearby overheard him and ordered "that Palmer drink," and a classic was born.

The secret to a perfect Arnold Palmer isn't just mixing any juice with any tea. It's about the ratio. While many bottled versions are mostly sugar water, the authentic recipe calls for a specific balance of unsweetened black tea and sharp, homemade lemonade to create a drink that is refreshing, not cloying.

A tall glass of Arnold Palmer iced tea with lemon slices and ice.
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Servings4 Drinks
Ratio1:1

Ingredients

The Iced Tea Layer
  • 4 cups Water
  • 4 Black Tea Bags (English Breakfast, Ceylon, or Assam work best)

The Lemonade Layer
  • 1 cup Fresh Lemon Juice (approx. 6-8 lemons)
  • 3/4 cup White Sugar (adjust to taste)
  • 1 cup Water (for simple syrup)
  • 2-3 cups Cold Water (to dilute lemonade)

Garnish
  • Lemon Wheels
  • Fresh Mint Sprigs
Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 90
Fat: 0g
Sugar: 22g
Protein: 0g

Instructions

1
Brew the Tea: Boil 4 cups of water. Pour over the tea bags in a heat-proof pitcher. Steep for 5 minutes. Remove bags and let the tea cool to room temperature. (Ideally, refrigerate until cold). Do not sweeten the tea yet.
2
Make Simple Syrup: While tea cools, combine 3/4 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Heat gently until sugar dissolves completely. Let it cool.
3
Mix the Lemonade: In a separate pitcher, combine the lemon juice, the cooled simple syrup, and 2-3 cups of cold water. Taste it. It should be slightly stronger/tarter than normal lemonade because the tea will dilute it.
4
The Assembly: Fill tall glasses with ice. Pour the glass half full with Lemonade, then top the remaining half with Iced Tea. This 50/50 ratio allows the tea tannins to cut through the sugar. Stir gently.

Expert Tip: Make it "Adult" (John Daly)

Want to turn this into a cocktail? Add 1.5 oz of Vodka to the glass before pouring the tea and lemonade. This variation is famously known as a "John Daly."