The warm weather is here, and our tall glass of Pineapple Arnold Palmer tea is the best summer refreshment.
When the thermostat hits those high temperatures, we reach for ice-cold refreshments.
Read on if you want to take your tea game to new heights!
Pineapple Arnold Palmer Mocktail
If you love tea, you’re probably familiar with an Arnold Palmer. It’s typically made with equal parts sweet tea and lemonade.
But we recently put a spin on the classic drink by using pineapple juice to make the lemonade.
Sounds crazy, right?
If that’s a little too tame for you, hold your horses because if you’re thinking like I’m thinking, you may want to make this into an adult drink.
No worries. Add lemon-infused vodka or your favorite gin, and presto change-o, you’ve got yourself a Boozy Pineapple Arnold Palmer!
What You Need To Make Our Pineapple Arnold Palmer Mocktail:
Tea. Freshly brewed tea or store-bought tea is fine. If you have time to brew a batch of sweet sun tea, then go for it. If not, use whatever kind of tea is convenient.
Lemonade Mix. You can’t have an Arnold Palmer without lemonade. You can also use pink lemonade or lavender lemonade mix. For this drink recipe, I used my favorite lemonade mix.
Pineapple Juice. You can use fresh-squeezed or canned pineapple juice; either one will do the job. However, if you plan to use fresh-squeezed pineapple juice, you may need to sweeten it up with sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave.
Honey. I love adding a bit of honey to this already refreshing drink; it makes it more summery. I love lavender honey, but use what’s in your pantry, and everything will be fine.
Lemon Thyme. We used lemon thyme, but regular thyme will do just fine, or use other fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or lavender.
Lemons. Cut them up any way you like; slices, wedges, or something fancier like a suprèmes. It doesn’t matter because we’re down for whatever you’re down with serving.
Want to make it an Arnold Palmer cocktail?
Add 1 1/2 ounces of vodka or white rum.
To give this a summer feel, add strawberry or lemon-infused vodka.
Shake it with a tropical flavor by adding pineapple and coconut-infused rum or rum liqueur.
How to Make a Pineapple Arnold Palmer Drink
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups sun tea (or store-bought tea)
- 2 ½ cups lemonade
- 2 ½ cups pineapple juice
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup honey simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
- 2–3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- Ice for serving
To make honey simple syrup:
- 2 cups of water
- 2 cups of honey
- Combine ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a low boil, stirring until the honey is dissolved.
- Allow the honey to cool and store it in an air-tight container.
- The honey-infused syrup will keep in the fridge for up to 30 days.
Directions on making a Pineapple Arnold Palmer:
- Large pitcher (depending on the size): 6-8 servings
- When adding the honey, adjust the sweetness to your specific taste.
- In a large pitcher, combine the sun tea, lemonade, and pineapple juice.
- Stir in honey simple syrup, starting with 1/4 cup and adding more if needed.
- Add sliced strawberries, lemon, and thyme sprigs.
- Chill for 1–2 hours or add ice to the pitcher just before serving.
- Serve over ice with extra garnishes if desired.
What can I use instead of honey?
You are welcome to use agave, artificial sweeteners, or granulated sugar.
I find that the liquid sweeteners are better as sugar will not dissolve how you want it to, and you could feel a few of the granules when you take a sip.
Can I make a large batch?
The current recipe is made in a pitcher, serving about 6-8 people.
If you need to make this for a larger crowd, double the recipe.
Mix it up, store it in the fridge, and pour over ice before serving.
This drink is best served within a short time after making it.
You can store it in the fridge for about 24 hours.
Pineapple Arnold Palmer (Serves 8–10)
Ingredients:
- 5 cups sun tea (or store-bought tea)
- 5 cups lemonade
- 5 cups pineapple juice
- 1/2 to 1 cup honey simple syrup (sweeten to taste)
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- Several sprigs of fresh thyme
- Ice for serving
Directions:
- In a large 1-gallon pitcher or beverage dispenser, combine the sun tea, lemonade, and pineapple juice.
- Stir in honey simple syrup, starting with 1/2 cup. Taste and add more if you want it sweeter.
- Add sliced strawberries, lemon rounds, and thyme sprigs directly into the pitcher.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or add ice to the dispenser before serving.
• 5. Pour into glasses over ice, and garnish with extra lemon or thyme if you’re feeling fancy.
How do you make sun tea?
Add a gallon of water into a large glass container. Add 6-8 tea bags and place the lid on the jar. Then set the jar outside in the warm sunshine.
Then set the jar outside in the warm sunshine for about 30 minutes to a few hours.
The time when the tea is ready will depend on the heat of the day and the brightness of the sun.
The hotter the day, the quicker the tea is ready.
Does sun tea have to be made in a glass?
Sun tea is best made in a glass as you don’t want to allow the plastic to heat up like a glass container.
It will not alter the flavor of the tea, and no chemicals will be released like a plastic container would.
Alright, you got the recipe, so be the best Teatotaler you can be.
Do you see what I did just there?
I’m so corny, but you love me, don’t you?
Be sure to check out these other delicious summer drinks:
Limoncello + Lavender Cocktail
Lemon & Cucumber Lemonade Cocktail
Pineapple Arnold Palmer
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups sun tea or store-bought tea
- 2 ½ cups lemonade
- 2 ½ cups pineapple juice
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup honey simple syrup adjust to taste
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries sliced
- 1/2 lemon thinly sliced
- 2 –3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- Ice for serving
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the sun tea, lemonade, and pineapple juice.
- Stir in honey simple syrup, starting with 1/4 cup and adding more if needed.
- Add sliced strawberries, lemon, and thyme sprigs. Chill for 1–2 hours or add ice to the pitcher just before serving.
- Serve over ice with extra garnishes if desired.
Notes
You can also serve this in a single glass, adding half pineapple juice and half sweet tea.
Honey to taste will depend on your tastebuds.
Tanya says
This looks good and I can imagine how it tasts *mouth-watering* I look forward to trying this out!!!