Arnold Palmer Recipe

Brew tea

Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and add 4 black tea bags. Let steep 4–5 minutes for medium strength (5–7 minutes for stronger).

Sweeten while hot

Remove tea bags, gently pressing them against the side with a spoon to extract flavor but not bitterness. Stir in 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until fully dissolved while the tea is still hot.

Cool tea

Allow the sweetened tea to come to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes), then place in the refrigerator until chilled, or pour over a large container of ice to cool quickly.

Make simple lemonade

Juice lemons until you have about 3 tablespoons (adjust to taste). In a small pitcher or jar, combine the 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 1 cup cold water. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity by adding more sugar or lemon juice as desired.

Fill two 12-oz (about 360 ml) glasses with ice (use the 2 cups ice). Pour chilled iced tea into each glass until it is roughly half full (about 3/4 cup tea per glass). Add lemonade to fill the remaining half (about 3/4 cup lemonade per glass), giving a roughly 1:1 ratio of tea to lemonade. Stir gently to combine.

Garnish each drink with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint if using. Taste and adjust: if you prefer sweeter, stir in a little more simple syrup or dissolved sugar; for more lemon brightness, add a squeeze of lemon.

Serve immediately with a straw or chilled spoon.