You can buy an Arnold Palmer iced tea at the store, however it super easy to tee up your own pitcher of this refreshing half iced tea and half lemonade drink at home. Perfect for a hot day! 

When making this drink at home, I like to customize the recipe by using my preferred type of tea and sweetness level, making it a diet with stevia instead of sugar, adding flavors, or even a little alcohol to spike it. 

I’m giving you the basic recipe so you can create your own perfect glass of Arnold Palmer Iced Tea.

arnold palmer tea in a glass with mint and lemon, masters golf ball next to it

Looking for a refreshing drink after a competitive round of golf? Or how about when hosting a Masters Viewing Party while watching the tournament on TV? Be sure to serve my Transfusion, Masters Secret Stand 12 Drink or the Masters Famous Asalea Cocktail. Even better, make a batch of my Azala Powdered Drink Mix, all you have to do is add vodka, water and ice!

What’s The Story? 

Arnold Palmer tells us it was really just by accident that he created this drink he is now famous for.  One day in the late 1960s, after designing a course in Palm Springs, Arnold Palmer ordered a mix of lemonade and iced tea from a waitress while ordering lunch. A woman sitting nearby heard what he ordered and said, “I’ll have an Arnold Palmer drink.” The official Arnold Palmer Iced Tea and Lemonade beverage was created.

Arnold had been drinking the combination for years prior. His wifewould make the half lemonade and half tea for him on hot days after being on the course. 

Ingredient Information 

There are only a few simple ingredients however, choosing good quality products is important.

  • Tea: Making this drink with classic black tea is a standard.  However, use your favorite tea. I like Orange Pekoe when making my Arnold. 
  • Lemonade: Don’t skimp here, buy or make fresh leomonade. It really makes the drink when you don’t have artificial flavors. 
  • Ice: Load up your glass and pour the tea and lemonade over it to give it a good chill. 

How To Make An Arnold Palmer Iced Tea

  1.  Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan.
  2. Remove the saucepan from heat and add the tea bags to the hot water. Let them steep for about 5 minutes.
  3. After steeping, remove the tea bags and discard them.
  4.  Add 1 cup of granulated sugar to the hot tea, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
  5. Pour the sweet tea into a plastic pitcher and add the lemonade. Stir to combine.
  6. Chill the tea and lemonade mixture in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  7. Serve our Arnold Palmor iced tea over ice in tall glasses, and garnish with lemon slices if desired.

Tips For Serving Half and Half Iced Tea

To serve an Arnold Palmer iced tea lemonade, simply pour the drink into a tall glass with plenty of ice. You can add a wedge of lemon to the side of the glass and a sprig of mint as a festive addition.

How To Make A Big Batch For A Party

When making a big batch of Arnold Palmer iced tea for a party, you’ll need to adjust the ingredients accordingly. This recipe makes 1.5 quarts.

Arnold Palmer tea drink = 2 gallons of tea per 25 guest

 Arnold Palmer cocktail = 1 1/2 drinks per guest each hour

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⚖️ Need a big batch to feed a crowd? You can easily change the number of servings in the recipe card below by tapping 2x or 3x. The ingredient measurements will automatically double or triple. You can then tap print and there you have it, a recipe for a crowd.

Party Tip: Make your tea and lemonade the day of the party. Tea, especially sweetened tea, is best consumed the day it is made.

Make It An Arnold Palmer Cocktail

A classic Arnold Palmer drink is a refreshingly simple summertime mocktail. However, the drink also makes a great base for delicious cocktails.

When you add alcohol, usually vodka, to an Arnold Palmer, it becomes a John Daly. This cocktail is named after another famous professional golfer, John Daly, who was known for his love of alcohol. The name is a playful nod to Daly’s reputation for enjoying a drink or two.

John Daly (Spiked Arnold Palmer Half and Half)

This cocktail is light and refreshing, but be cautious as it’s deceptively smooth.

  • Homemade Arnold Palmer Iced Tea
  • 1 1/2 oz. vodka

Stir well and serve over ice.

Peachy Arnold Palmer 🍑

  • Homemade Arnold Palmer Iced Tea
  • 1 ounce bourbon
  • ½ ounce peach liqueur
  • 5 fresh peach slices

Mix liquids in a tall glass and stir well. Add peach slices and ice. Serve with a slice of peach on the side of the glass.

Be sure to try all of my other famous Masters golf recipes!

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Do you have a question?

Do you have a question about this recipe❓ I will answer in the comment form below👇🏼 the recipe card. Did you make this recipe? If so, could you be a gem and leave a comment and rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below? This helps others find yummy 😋 recipes to make for their family and friends.

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arnold palmer tea in a glass with mint and lemon, masters golf ball next to it
5 from 3 ratings

Thirst Quenching Homemade Arnold Palmer Iced Tea Drink

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Steep: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 cups
Learn how to make your own famous Arnold Palmer Iced Tea drink at home. It's a refreshing beverage made with a ratio of equal parts lemonade and iced tea. Read all the tips and how-tos so you can make this thirst-quenching drink. The Arnold Palmer Iced Tea can be served as a mocktail drink or used as a base for a cocktail by adding a few more ingredients.

Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups water
  • 3 teabags tea, family-sized tea bags or 6 regular-sized tea bags
  • 1 cup sugar, more if you like it sweeter or make it unsweet like Arnold drinks it. I like to make it a diet Arnold Palmer by adding stevia.
  • 3 cups lemonade, fresh made or good quality store bought
  • Ice

Instructions
 

  • Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan.
    3 cups water
  • Remove the saucepan from heat and add the tea bags. Let them steep for about 5 minutes.
    3 teabags tea
  • After steeping, remove the tea bags and discard them.
  • Add 1 cup of granulated sugar to the hot tea, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
    1 cup sugar
  • Pour the sweet tea into a plastic pitcher and add the lemonade. Stir to combine.
    3 cups lemonade
  • Chill the tea and lemonade mixture in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  • Serve our Arnold Palmor iced tea over ice in tall glasses, and garnish with lemon slices if desired.
    Ice
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 188kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 14mg, Potassium: 1mg, Sugar: 47g, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.02mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Drinks
Author: Gina Dickson

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