National Iced Tea Day: Your Guide to Arizona Iced Tea in the UK

National Iced Tea Day falls on 10 June every year — and while it's an American observance, it's become a widely used content hook for drinks retailers, food bloggers, and social media accounts on both sides of the Atlantic.

It's also the perfect occasion to talk about Arizona Iced Tea — the brand that has done more than any other to make iced tea a genuinely popular drink in the UK. This guide covers the full Arizona range available in the UK, the history behind the brand, and what makes it one of the best-selling American drinks imports. For a broader look at American drinks in the UK, see our American sodas guide.

The History of Arizona Iced Tea

Arizona Iced Tea was founded in 1992 by John Ferolito and Don Vultaggio in Brooklyn, New York. The timing was deliberate — the early 1990s American drinks market was dominated by cola brands, and Ferolito and Vultaggio saw an opportunity for a ready-to-drink iced tea that was more interesting, more flavourful, and significantly cheaper than mainstream alternatives.

The original product was a 680ml can of Green Tea with Honey — an unusually large format at the time, with distinctive Southwestern-themed packaging featuring cacti, desert landscapes, and turquoise and terracotta colours. The price point was deliberately low: 99 cents for a can that was significantly larger than a standard soda. That value positioning became fundamental to the brand's identity.

The 99-cent price point became so associated with Arizona that when retailers tried to raise the price, Arizona printed '99 cents' directly on the can to prevent it. The brand has maintained that accessibility-focused philosophy throughout its history, even as the product range expanded dramatically.

Arizona grew through the 1990s and 2000s by expanding their flavour range — first more tea variants, then fruit-based drinks, juice cocktails, and energy drinks. Today Arizona produces over 100 products, though the core tea range remains the heart of the brand. The distinctive tall can format has become one of the most recognisable packaging designs in the American drinks market.

Why Arizona Is So Popular in the UK

Arizona's UK popularity has grown significantly over the past decade, driven by several factors.

Visual impact. Arizona cans are genuinely beautiful objects. The illustrated Southwestern designs — cacti, desert sunsets, Native American-influenced patterns — are immediately distinctive on any shelf. A row of Arizona cans is one of the most eye-catching displays in the American drinks category.

Flavour variety. The range covers tea, fruit juice, lemonade, energy, and hybrid formats — far more variety than any UK iced tea brand. For consumers who want something different from standard UK soft drinks, Arizona offers a genuine alternative.

Social media presence. Arizona cans have become a social media staple — they're one of the most photographed food and drink products in the world. The packaging photographs beautifully, and the brand has an enormous organic social presence without significant advertising spend.

No UK equivalent. There's no UK iced tea brand with the same range, visual identity, or flavour profile as Arizona. The closest UK equivalents are pale imitations. Arizona's position in the UK market is largely uncontested.

The Complete Arizona UK Range

Green Tea with Honey

The original and the flagship. A blend of green tea with natural honey — lighter and less sweet than black tea-based iced teas, with a clean, slightly floral flavour. The turquoise and white can design is the most recognisable in the range. Available in 500ml and 680ml formats. Consistently the best-selling Arizona flavour in the UK.

Retailer tip: Lead with Green Tea with Honey. It's the most searched-for Arizona flavour and the one most likely to convert first-time buyers.

Arnold Palmer Half & Half

Named after the legendary American golfer Arnold Palmer, who was famous for ordering a mix of iced tea and lemonade. The Arizona version combines black tea and lemonade in the same ratio — a refreshing, slightly tart drink with the complexity of tea and the sharpness of lemonade. One of the most popular Arizona flavours in the US and a strong UK seller.

The Arnold Palmer Lite version reduces the calorie content while maintaining the flavour balance. Both are worth stocking for the health-conscious audience.

Watermelon

A fruit juice cocktail rather than a tea — bright, vivid, and intensely watermelon-flavoured. The pink and green can design is one of the most visually striking in the range. Watermelon is consistently one of the strongest-selling Arizona flavours with younger consumers and on social media, where the colour combination photographs exceptionally well.

Mucho Mango

A mango juice cocktail with a bold, tropical flavour. The orange and yellow can design is warm and vivid. Mango is one of the most popular fruit flavours globally and Mucho Mango translates that appeal into a distinctly Arizona format. A reliable seller particularly in summer.

Fruit Punch

A classic American fruit punch blend — sweet, tropical, and vivid red in colour. The Fruit Punch can design is bold and immediately eye-catching. A natural choice for customers who love the Hawaiian Punch style but want something in the Arizona format.

Sweet Tea

Southern-style sweet tea — strong black tea with a significant amount of sugar, in the traditional American South tradition. Sweet tea is a cultural institution in the American South, and the Arizona version captures that style in a ready-to-drink format. Stronger and sweeter than the Green Tea variant, with a more robust tea flavour.

Peach Tea

Black tea with peach flavour — a classic combination that sits between the clean subtlety of Green Tea and the fruit-forward sweetness of Watermelon. Peach Tea is a strong mid-range option for customers who want iced tea flavour with a fruity edge.

Lemon Tea

Black tea with lemon — the most traditional iced tea flavour in the range and the closest to what UK consumers might expect from an iced tea. A reliable choice for customers who want something familiar but in the Arizona format and quality level.

Energy Drinks

Arizona's energy drink range — RX Energy and other variants — applies the brand's tea-based flavour approach to the energy category. The Arizona energy drinks sit between standard energy drinks and iced teas, with lower caffeine than mainstream energy brands but more flavour complexity. A natural crossover product for customers who buy both tea and energy drinks.

Arizona for Retailers: Display and Stocking Tips

Arizona is one of the easiest American drinks products to display and sell. A few practical tips:

The can is the display. Arizona's packaging does the selling. A row of different flavours at eye level creates an immediately striking display without any additional signage needed. The variety of can designs — each flavour has its own distinctive illustration — creates a visual tapestry that draws the eye.

Cans and bottles together. The tall 680ml cans and the smaller 500ml cans serve different occasions. Stock both formats where space allows — the larger can is the hero display product while the smaller format offers a lower price-point entry.

Position near the candy range. Customers buying American candy will add a drink naturally if it's within sight. Arizona positioned near your American candy section drives cross-category purchase.

Seasonal push in summer. National Iced Tea Day (10 June) and the 4th of July period are natural Arizona promotional moments. A dedicated display in June and early July capitalises on summer demand for cold drinks.

For the full drinks picture, see our American sodas guide. For display principles, see our American candy section setup guide.

Beyond Arizona — Other Great American Iced Tea Options

Peace Tea is Arizona's closest competitor in the UK import market — a range of fruit-tea blends at a similar price point with a younger, more playful brand identity. Georgia Peach, Caddy Shack (half tea, half lemonade), and Razzleberry are the standout flavours. Worth stocking alongside Arizona to give customers a choice.

For a complete picture of the American drinks range available in the UK — including Calypso Lemonade, C&C Soda, and A&W Root Beer — see our complete American sodas guide.

Where to Buy Arizona Iced Tea in the UK

Sweet and Glory stocks the full Arizona Iced Tea range at wholesale prices, including Green Tea with Honey, Arnold Palmer, Watermelon, Mucho Mango, Fruit Punch, Sweet Tea, Peach Tea, Lemon Tea, and energy drink variants. Browse our soft drinks range, including cans and bottles formats, for the complete American drinks selection.

Whether you're a retailer building a drinks section or a consumer who wants to try every Arizona flavour, there's no minimum order. Free parcel delivery on orders over £150 ex VAT. Open a trade account for wholesale pricing, or simply browse and order.