Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe
By the QuiteRecipes team (Jamy & Kaïna) | Food Service Professional, Early Childhood Expert & Parents
Master the legendary Arnold Palmer! A flawless half-and-half balance of crisp unsweetened black iced tea and sweet, zesty lemonade.
Half iced tea, half lemonade, all legend. The Arnold Palmer works because neither side tries to win — crisp unsweetened tea and bright, zesty lemonade meet in the middle and make a drink that's somehow more than the sum of its two famous parts.
🥄 Ingredients
- 🫗 4 oz (120 ml) unsweetened black iced tea (chilled)
- 🫗 4 oz (120 ml) sweet lemonade (freshly made)
- 🫗 Ice
- 🫗 Lemon wedge (for garnish)
Nutrition Facts*
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands and portion sizes. Values are provided per serving.
👨🍳 Instructions
Brew a cup of strong black tea (such as Ceylon or English Breakfast) and let it cool completely in the refrigerator.
Fill a tall tumbler glass completely with ice cubes.
Pour 4 oz (120 ml) of sweet lemonade into the glass first.
Slowly pour 4 oz (120 ml) of the chilled black tea right over the top.
Stir gently with a long bar spoon to marry the flavors.
Garnish with a fresh lemon wedge on the rim.
🎥 Video Tutorial
Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe
Video credit: embedded from YouTube. All rights belong to the original creator, who allows sharing on other websites.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕
Warm Tea: Pouring hot or warm tea directly over ice will melt the ice instantly, leaving you with a lukewarm, diluted, watery drink.
- ✕
Over-sweetening: Using pre-sweetened sweet tea mixed with sweet lemonade results in a cloying flavor that loses its refreshing qualities.
🔄 Variations
John Daly: Named after the golfer, this boozy version incorporates 1.5 oz (45 ml) of vodka into the mix.
Green Tea Palmer: Swap the traditional black tea for a crisp, earthy iced green tea or jasmine tea for a lighter floral note.
🧊 Storage
- 📦
You can mix large batches of this drink in a pitcher and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep it completely ice-free until poured into individual glasses.
💡 Chef Tips
The Golden Ratio: While a traditional Arnold Palmer is a strict 50/50 split, many bartenders prefer a "Flyer's Ratio" of 60% iced tea to 40% lemonade to keep it from being overly sweet.
Unsweetened Tea is Key: Because standard lemonade contains plenty of sugar, using unsweetened black tea creates a crisp contrast that cuts through the sugar.
🔗 Related Recipes
About the Authors
This recipe and guide was developed, tested, and approved in our home kitchen and daily life. Jamy is a retired Food Service District Manager and Early Childhood Program Manager who spent his career overseeing multi-site restaurant operations, large-scale culinary production, and daycare menu management. Kaïna brings the ultimate real-world test: making sure it brings ease and joy to our kids on a busy weeknight.
Read more about our professional background and philosophy →