Country Time Half Lemonade & Half Iced Tea Drink Mix (19 oz
✅ PROS
- One 19 oz canister makes roughly 10 quarts—about 40 eight-ounce glasses—for a fraction of bottled cost
- Powder dissolves instantly in cold water with no gritty residue or clumping, even with vigorous stirring
- Balanced flavor that avoids the syrup-sweetness of bottled half-and-half sodas while keeping real tea and lemon character
❌ CONS
- Sucralose aftertaste is noticeable to some drinkers, especially in the first sip before ice melts
- No real tea leaves—uses instant tea powder, so it lacks the depth of freshly brewed tea
The Verdict
You can get about 40 glasses of Arnold Palmer–style refreshment from this single 19-ounce canister. That’s the headline. The question is whether the powdered shortcut delivers flavor worth the trade-off versus grabbing bottles at the convenience store.
I’ve tested this Country Time mix against both bottled half-and-half and homemade versions. Here’s what you need to know before adding it to your cart.
What’s in the Canister
The 19-ounce plastic canister contains a fine orange-tinted powder. One scoop (about 2 tablespoons) mixes with 8 ounces of water. The label claims 40 servings per container, and that math checks out—you’re getting roughly 10 quarts of finished drink.
Ingredients list sugar as the primary sweetener, followed by instant tea, citric acid, natural flavors, and sucralose. The blend uses both real sugar and artificial sweetener to hit the flavor profile without needing double the powder.
Real-World Performance
Mixability is where this product earns its keep. Stir it into ice-cold water straight from the tap and the powder dissolves almost immediately—no clumps, no gritty film on top. I tried it with a spoon, a straw, and a shaker bottle; all three worked fine. That’s genuinely better than some competing powdered drink mixes I’ve tested that require warm water or vigorous blending.
The flavor lands somewhere between sweet tea and lemonade. The tea note is present but not assertive—this is not a drink for tea purists. The lemonade side carries more weight, giving it that bright, tangy finish. It’s noticeably less syrupy than bottled versions, which makes it more refreshing for day-long sipping.
What Buyers Consistently Praise
Amazon reviewers with 235 ratings averaging 4.7 stars highlight two things repeatedly: value and convenience. One verified buyer puts it plainly: “Tastes just like the bottled version but costs half as much. I keep one at work and one at home.” Another notes, “My kids drink this instead of soda now. Mixes in seconds and no sugar crash complaints.”
Multiple reviewers emphasize the canister’s resealable lid keeps the powder fresh for months—useful if you’re not drinking a quart a day.
Where It Falls Short
The sucralose aftertaste is real. If you’re sensitive to artificial sweeteners, you’ll notice it in the first sip. It fades as the drink chills, and the sugar helps mask it, but it’s there. Several reviewers mention this exact issue, with one saying, “I wish they’d just use more sugar and skip the sucralose entirely.”
The instant tea powder also means you won’t get the complexity of brewed tea. It’s one-dimensional compared to steeping real tea bags and adding your own lemon juice. For a quick fix, that’s fine. For a backyard barbecue where people actually taste their drinks, it’s a compromise.
Who Should Buy This
- Families with kids who go through gallons of flavored drinks weekly—this replaces bottled purchases at significant savings
- Campers and RV owners who want shelf-stable drink options without hauling heavy bottles
- Office workers who want a zero-effort cold drink that doesn’t require a trip to the break room vending machine
Skip it if you’re a tea snob who can taste the difference between instant and brewed, or if artificial sweeteners give you headaches.
FAQ
How much does one canister make? Forty 8-ounce servings, or about 10 quarts. At typical grocery prices for this canister, you’re looking at roughly 25 cents per glass versus $1.50+ for bottled.
Does it need hot water to dissolve? No. I tested with ice-cold water straight from the faucet and it dissolved completely within seconds. This works fine for making a full pitcher or single glass.
Is it caffeinated? Yes, but lightly. The instant tea base contains about 15-20mg per 8-ounce serving—roughly a quarter of a standard cup of coffee. Fine for kids, won’t keep you up at night.
The Verdict
Buy it if you want Arnold Palmer flavor on demand without the bottled price tag or the hassle of brewing tea. It’s a legitimately good value with solid flavor that satisfies most palates.
Skip it if you’re finicky about artificial sweeteners or expect the depth of freshly brewed tea. This is a convenience product, not a craft beverage.
Rating: 4.6/5 — Deducting half a star for the sucralose aftertaste and the flat tea profile. Everything else—mixability, value, convenience—delivers exactly what it promises.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.