By the Yerba Buena Tea Co. team. June 2026.
The quick version: an Arnold Palmer is half iced tea, half lemonade, over ice. Brew a strong cup of Assam black tea, let it cool, then pour it over a tall glass of ice and lemonade in roughly equal parts. Bright, malty, and barely sweet. The full recipe is in the card below.
Named after the golfer who famously ordered it, the Arnold Palmer is the drink of a hot afternoon: tea and lemonade, side by side in one glass. Made at home with real brewed tea instead of a bottle or a scoop of powder, it tastes brighter, cleaner, and far less sugary.
What is an Arnold Palmer?
It is simple: half iced tea, half lemonade, poured over ice. No alcohol, no secret ingredient, just two summer classics in one glass. The name comes from golf legend Arnold Palmer, who liked to mix the two, and the order stuck.
The secret: brew the Assam strong
The one thing that makes a weak Arnold Palmer is weak tea. Between the ice and the lemonade, your tea gets diluted, so brew it strong: a full tablespoon of Assam in a small amount of water, steeped a solid 4 minutes. Assam's natural maltiness is exactly what stands up to the tart lemonade. We cover the strong-brew, chill-it-right method in our guide to making iced tea.
Make it your own
The classic ratio is 50/50, but it is yours to tune. Pour in more lemonade for a tarter, brighter glass, or more tea for a deeper, maltier one. Skip the extra sweetener if your lemonade is already sweet. For an adults-only version (sometimes called a John Daly), add a shot of vodka or bourbon, for of-age drinkers only. Find more warm-weather sippers in our iced tea collection.
Grab a tall glass and plenty of ice. The full recipe is in the card below.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Arnold Palmer drink?
It is half iced tea and half lemonade, served over ice. It is named after the golfer Arnold Palmer, who liked to order the two mixed together. It contains no alcohol.
What is the ratio of tea to lemonade?
The classic is 50/50, equal parts iced tea and lemonade. Tune it to taste: more lemonade for tart and bright, more tea for deep and malty.
What tea is best for an Arnold Palmer?
A bold black tea. We use a malty Assam, brewed strong so it holds up to the lemon and the ice. English Breakfast works well too.
Is an Arnold Palmer caffeinated?
Yes. The iced-tea half is black tea, so a glass has roughly 20 to 35 mg of caffeine, about half a cup of tea since it is cut with lemonade. See our caffeine chart for the details.
What is a John Daly?
A John Daly is the spiked version of an Arnold Palmer, the same iced tea and lemonade with a shot of vodka or bourbon added. For of-age drinkers only.
Can I make it ahead for a crowd?
Yes. Brew a pitcher of strong Assam and a batch of lemonade and keep them separate in the fridge. Combine equal parts over ice as you serve so the drink stays crisp and never waters down.
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