Arnold Palmer
Cold black tea and cloudy lemonade, half and half over ice. Clean, refreshing and nothing to prepare.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Highball
- Strength
- Alcohol-free
How to make an Arnold Palmer
- Brew the tea. Pour 200 ml of just-boiled water over two teabags. Steep for 4 minutes, remove the bags and leave to cool. Chill it if you have time.
- Fill the glass. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in 100 ml of the cooled tea.
- Add lemonade and lemon. Add the lemonade and lemon juice, and stir once.
- Garnish. Slide a lemon wheel down the side of the glass. Taste: it should be fresh and lightly tannic, not sweet.
- Glass
- HighballNo highball? Any tall glass.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- Lemon wheelOr: A mint sprig.
What you need to make an Arnold Palmer
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
KettleFor hot water and warming glasses.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
Bottles we'd use
- Cloudy lemonadeReal lemon juice and a tart finish: look for one with a short ingredients list.Find it on Amazon
- Black tea bagsA plain, robust English breakfast or Assam works best.Find it on Amazon
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Arnold Palmer variations and swaps
Add 40 ml of vodka to make a John Daly, the spiked version. Bourbon gives a warmer, sweeter one. For a less sweet drink, use 120 ml of tea and 80 ml of lemonade. Earl Grey gives a floral citrus note in place of black tea, and peppermint tea makes a cooler, fresher drink. Cold-brew the tea if you want it smoother: leave 4 teabags in 400 ml of cold water in the fridge overnight, then remove the bags. That makes four drinks. For a jug of six, mix 600 ml of tea, 600 ml of lemonade and 60 ml of lemon juice.
The Arnold Palmer story
The Arnold Palmer is iced tea and lemonade in roughly equal parts. It is named after the American golfer, who was known for ordering it. In Britain it is usually just called iced tea and lemonade, but the name is useful for finding the recipe.
Brew the tea strong and let it cool, so the ice does not dilute it. Cloudy lemonade with real lemon juice tastes better than clear fizzy lemonade, which is far sweeter. A squeeze of fresh lemon keeps it sharp.
Arnold Palmer: your questions answered
What is in an Arnold Palmer?
An Arnold Palmer is made with 100 ml strong black tea, 100 ml cloudy lemonade and 10 ml fresh lemon juice. Garnish: lemon wheel.
Is this Arnold Palmer alcohol-free?
Yes. This Arnold Palmer is made without any alcoholic ingredients, so it suits drivers and anyone taking a night off.
What glass do you serve an Arnold Palmer in?
Serve an Arnold Palmer in a highball over ice. No highball? Any tall glass.
