I’m making a toast to my dad, aka, Papa Bear today. Cheers Dad, this post and recipe is dedicated to you. This iced tea recipe came from my dad, and it was one of my favorite growing up summertime drinks. You knew it was summer when my dad made up a pitcher of this sun tea. I think my dad created the Arnold Palmer before everyone knew what it was.
So, you’re probably wondering what’s up with the name Papa Bear? My brother and I gave my dad the nickname “Papa Bear” because he’s always had this year round beard, and he’s the most lovable and huggable person. He truly reminds us of a big lovable bear. My friends chimed in and soon my dad was known by all as “Papa Bear.” The name has stuck with him through the years, and my kids only know him as Papa Bear. My dad loves the name, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
I had forgotten all about this sun tea until my recent visit to NY. My dad served up this tea alongside some amazing homemade strawberry shortcake that my stepmom, Rita, had made. The fist sip took me back in time. All those happy childhood memories came flooding back. Camping each summer at Lake George and Schroon Lake, whitewater rafting, tubing, canoeing and just sitting outside on a hot summer night sipping this iced tea with my dad on our back yard picnic table. We would sit out there for hours just reminiscing and enjoying those long summer nights.
This is a great drink to bring to any 4th of July party or picnic. It’s refreshing and super easy to make, and isn’t that what you want in a summer beverage? I let a batch of this brew on the deck in the morning so that it’s nice and cool come dinner time.
homemade Arnold Palmer:
- 7 cups filtered water
- 7 normal sized tea bags such as Lipton or your favorite tea – If you’re using the family sized tea bags then you will want to use around 4 bags
- 1/2 container (6oz) frozen lemonade concentrate
Get a large glass container and fill it up with the 7 cups of filtered water. If your container can’t hold 7 cups, then just fill it up and add 1 tea bag per cup. If your container can hold 8 cups (2 quarts), then just add one more tea bag to the mix. Tear the tags off of the tea bags and then tie the bags together in a knot.
Add the teabags to the water and cover with a lid. I did not have a lid for my glass container so I used some plastic wrap and put a rubber band around it so it wouldn’t blow off.
Sit the tea in the direct sun for about 2 hours or until the tea looks dark.
Add 1/2 container of frozen lemonade concentrate and stir to blend. If you like it sweeter, then add more lemonade.
Refrigerate the tea till cooled. Pour some chilled iced tea in your favorite glass and add a lemon wedge if desired.
Tip: Want to put ice in your iced-tea but don’t want to water it down? Make a second batch of tea and pour it into some ice-cube trays and throw those in your tea.
You can totally change up the recipe by adding a flavored tea as well as flavored lemonade.
I hope my kids have the same happy memories when they make this iced tea for their kids someday. Cheers to you Papa Bear! I love you!
My grandmother that I lived with and died when I was 8 use to make ice tea with lemonade! She use to put it aluminum cups u put in the freezer. I don’t know exactly how she made it or if it was sun tea but it was good and one of my good childhood memories. Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait to try this!
Hi Maryann! What a sweet memory you have of your grandmother! Love that! I hope this tea turned out well for you and brought back even more memories! Thanks so much for sharing! xoxo, Jacquelyn
What a great idea! It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that?”-gonna have me some today:)
I know, I had forgotten all about his sun tea. I am brewing some on the deck while Eli and I are at the pool!
What a post! I kept scrolling down saying, I want that, no, I want that! I’d take any one of those burgers with some of that lemonade…
Thanks so much Sue!
Awww – what a lovely post – and I do love me some Iced Tea! Even more when its served in Mason Jars!
Im VERY excited about celebrating my first 4 th of July here (even more so because we have today and Weds off school!!!). I’ve no idea where we’ll be celebrating.. but if its anywhere near here I’ll definitely be trying the turkey burgers because Ive been dying to for ages.
Also – did I ever tell you that I made your lemony chicken shallot recipe!? We loved it!! I thought it was going to be weird at first because the sauce was SO acidic and lemony on its own (I had to use regular lemons!) but – paired with the chicken – it tasted fantastic. It was also delicious to have any leftover bits with our side of broccoli!
I am so obsessed with mason jars right now. They look great with everything. Did you notice that there is a dog on the jar?
You never told me you made the chicken shallot recipe. Yaay! I am so glad you loved it. I have not cooked a chicken dish in months, is that weird? I usually reserve chicken for fall and winter and I don’t know why.
Anyway, I can’t wait for our workshop tomorrow!
Welcome back! How’s your holidays? Must be great!
Happy 4th July to you too… Wish that we can have our hot summer soon… everything is so cold and gloomy here in Melbourne 🙁