Made with half lemonade, half sweet tea, the Arnold Palmer is a non-alcoholic beverage that is so refreshing on a hot day!
Even though the Arnie Palmer isn't a southern drink, I like to add some southern hospitality to it. As y'all know, in the summer sweet tea and homemade lemonade are always stocked in the fridge in every southern belle's kitchen. And when you're craving a SunJoy from Chick-Fil-A on a Sunday, that comes in real handy.
This drink is really easy to make, no matter the variation. In my recipe, we make a delicious lemon simple syrup to boost the lemonade and sweet tea, which can be traded for unsweetened iced tea.
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What is an Arnold Palmer drink?
The classic Arnold Palmer drink is named after legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, known for both his golfing skills and golf course design here in the United States. The drink itself was something his wife Winnie would make for him: a mix of 3 parts unsweetened iced black tea and one part lemonade.
When he was at the Latrobe country club in palm springs on a hot summer day in the late 1960s, he told the waitress to make a him a mocktail of lemonade and iced tea. A woman overhead and told her waitress that she'll be having 'that Arnold Palmer drink'. And because he was such a celebrity, that order spread like wildfire.
And in my opinion, that was a strategic marketing move. Because according to a golf club in Florida, Mr. Palmer never had to order his own drink; they all had it prepared for him and served it without him needing to ask.
Now the Arnold Palmer Company and Arizona Beverage Company sell the drink and numerous variations in retail. Like I said, smart marketing!
Ingredients
The original recipe calls for 3 parts unsweetened tea and 1 part fresh lemonade. But in these parts we drink Southern Arnold Palmers, made with sweet iced tea, instead. Simple ingredients, delicious results.
Iced Tea
Black tea bags. Use high quality black tea, orange pekoe is easy to find at your local grocery store.
Boiling hot water.
Sugar. This can just be an unsweetened black tea, since the lemon simple syrup is so sweet.
Lemonade Concentrate
Lemon Simple Syrup. Very easy to make, don't fret! Grab some lemon peels, sugar, and water. That's all.
Lemon Juice.
Cold Water.
How to Make a Pitcher of Arnold Palmer.
First make the lemon simple syrup with the lemon peels, a cup of sugar, and a cup of cold water.
Now boil water for the tea. Let it steep for 10 minutes, then remove the bags and add a pinch of baking soda. Dissolve a cup of sugar into the hot tea a
Next, juice those lemons! We want a cup of lemon juice, so 4 to 5 juicy lemons.
Put lemon wheels and ice cubes in a large pitcher, then add the sweet tea, lemon syrup, and lemon juice to the pitcher, stir well, and let chill before serving.
Serve with a lemon slice and more ice!
You can also serve the tea and lemonade separately, making each blend of iced tea to lemonade up to the person enjoying their Arnold Palmer.
Variations
Strawberry Arnold Palmer. A fave of mine! Add strawberry simple syrup or use strawberry lemonade. This is also called a Pink Palmer.
John Daly Drink. Named after Arnold Palmer's professional rival, the John Daly is the Arnold Palmer drink with a shot of vodka added. It's also called a Spiked Arnold Palmer.
Captain Palmer. Add a shot of dark rum to your drink and you have a Captain Palmer!
Southern Spiked. This is how my husband likes his drink. Use sweet tea and add a shot of bourbon!
Half & Half. This is the most popular way of drinking an Arnold Palmer, it's also called a SunJoy at Chick-Fil-A. Equal parts lemonade and iced tea!
Frequently Asked Questions
Sun tea is the way our grandmamas made tea, in big mason jars in the backyard. But this can be dangerous, letting bacteria thrive if you're not careful. So I don't recommend it.
SunJoy is half lemonade and half iced tea, so it's a variation of the Arnold Palmer.
More summer drinks
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📖 Recipe
Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe
Made with half lemonade, half sweet tea, the Arnold Palmer is a non-alcoholic beverage that is so refreshing on a hot day!
Ingredients
Arnold Palmer
- 3 family-sized black tea bags
- 5 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar, optional
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
Lemon Simple Syrup
- Peels of 2 lemons, no pith
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup cold water
Instructions
Make the Iced Tea
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Once at a boil, turn the heat off and add the black tea bags. Steep for 10 minutes, then remove the tea bags.
- Add cup of granulated sugar, if using, and stir until it's dissolved completely. Let cool to room temperature.
Make Lemon Simple Syrup
- Add lemon peels, granulated sugar, and cold water into a medium saucepan over medium high heat.
- Bring the ingredients to a boil, then turn the heat to medium once the sugar is completely dissolved. Let simmer for 10 minutes, then strain out the lemon peels.
Make the Arnold Palmer
Add ice and lemon wheels to a large pitcher, then add the lemon juice, brewed tea, and lemon simple syrup to the pitcher.- Stir well with a long spoon, serve chilled.
Notes
Variations
Strawberry Arnold Palmer. A fave of mine! Add strawberry simple syrup or use strawberry lemonade. This is also called a Pink Palmer.
John Daly Drink. Named after Arnold Palmer's professional rival, the John Daly is the Arnold Palmer drink with a shot of vodka added. It's also called a Spiked Arnold Palmer.
Captain Palmer. Add a shot of dark rum to your drink and you have a Captain Palmer!
Southern Spiked. This is how my husband likes his drink. Use sweet tea and add a shot of bourbon!
Half & Half. This is the most popular way of drinking an Arnold Palmer, it's also called a SunJoy at Chick-Fil-A. Half lemonade, half iced tea!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 276Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 11mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 1gSugar: 68gProtein: 0g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
Eden Westbrook is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind Sweet Tea and Thyme. A classically trained chef, Eden has inspired home cooks into the kitchen with cultural comfort foods, easy family-friendly eats and sweets, and glorious spreads for date night and entertaining since 2015.
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