Are AriZona's Considered Energy Drinks? The Truth About Iced Teas and RX Energy

December 24, 2025 •

3 min read

AriZona Beverages, founded in 1992, produces a wide variety of drinks, including iced teas, juice cocktails, and specific energy drink products. This diverse product line often leads to confusion for consumers wondering whether all their beverages fall under the energy drink category.

Quick Summary

AriZona offers both standard iced teas with low caffeine and dedicated energy drink lines, like RX Energy and the Fallout series, containing significantly higher levels of stimulants and functional ingredients. The distinction is crucial for understanding their nutritional content.

Key Points

Not all AriZona drinks are energy drinks: While some are standard iced teas with minimal caffeine, others are specifically formulated as high-caffeine energy drinks.
AriZona RX Energy is an energy drink: The RX Energy Herbal Tonic contains a blend of stimulants, including caffeine, ginseng, and guarana, placing it in the energy drink category.
New Fallout drinks are high-caffeine energy drinks: Recent collaborations like the AriZona x Fallout series feature significantly high caffeine content (234mg per can) and other functional ingredients.
Standard iced teas have much less caffeine: AriZona's classic green and black iced teas contain only naturally occurring, low levels of caffeine from the tea leaves, typically under 20mg per large can.
Always check the label for stimulants: To distinguish between an iced tea and an energy drink, look for added ingredients like taurine, guarana, and high caffeine concentrations on the nutritional facts panel.
Energy drinks have different health implications: The high caffeine and sugar content in energy drinks can pose risks like heart palpitations, anxiety, and blood sugar spikes, unlike the gentler effect of standard iced tea.
AriZona makes a range of beverages: The company's product line includes teas, juices, and specialty drinks, so consumers should not assume every product has the same nutritional profile.

AriZona's Diverse Product Line: Beyond the Famous Iced Tea

For decades, AriZona has been synonymous with its large, colorful cans of affordable iced tea, but the company’s product portfolio is far more extensive. While their classic green and black iced teas are staples, they also produce juice drinks, hydration products, and, crucially, specific beverages marketed and formulated as energy drinks. This distinction is the source of frequent consumer confusion, especially for those monitoring their caffeine or sugar intake.

The Key Difference: Ingredients and Formulation

What separates an iced tea from an energy drink fundamentally comes down to its ingredient list and the concentration of stimulants. While standard AriZona iced teas contain only the naturally occurring, low levels of caffeine from the brewed tea leaves, their energy drink counterparts are engineered with additional stimulants to deliver a more significant jolt.

Standard AriZona Iced Tea Ingredients (Example: Green Tea):

Filtered Water
High Fructose Corn Syrup (or Cane Sugar)
Green Tea
Natural Flavors
Honey
Ginseng Extract
Vitamin C

AriZona Energy Drink Ingredients (Example: RX Energy Herbal Tonic):

Premium Brewed Green Tea
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Fruit Juices
Natural Flavors
Caffeine
Panax Ginseng Extract
Guarana Root Extract
Eleuthero Root Extract
Schisandra Extract
Vitamins (A, C, E)

Spotlight on AriZona's High-Energy Offerings

AriZona's energy products are explicitly labeled and formulated to provide a stronger, more potent boost than their traditional iced teas. The RX Energy Herbal Tonic is a well-known example that has been in their lineup for years, packing a blend of stimulants and vitamins. More recently, the company introduced the AriZona x Fallout Green Tea Energy Drinks, which contain a substantial 234mg of natural caffeine per can, alongside other functional ingredients like taurine and B-vitamins. This places them firmly in the same category as other popular high-caffeine energy drinks.

Comparison Table: Iced Tea vs. Energy Drink

To clearly illustrate the difference, here is a breakdown comparing a standard AriZona Green Tea with an AriZona RX Energy Herbal Tonic, based on approximate nutritional values for a 22oz can:


Feature	AriZona Green Tea (approx. 22oz)	AriZona RX Energy Herbal Tonic (approx. 22oz)
Caffeine	~16.5 mg	~110-120 mg
Sugar	~50 g	~55 g
Calories	~170	~200-225
Key Stimulants	Ginseng (minimal)	Panax Ginseng, Guarana, Eleuthero, Schisandra
Vitamins	Vitamin C	Vitamins A, C, E
Energy Source	Mostly Sugar + minimal caffeine	High Sugar + High Caffeine + Herbal Stimulants

The Health Implications of AriZona's Different Drinks

For health-conscious consumers, understanding the contents of their beverage is paramount. A classic AriZona iced tea, while a better option than many sugary sodas, is still high in sugar and calories, which can contribute to weight gain and blood sugar issues if consumed regularly. In contrast, the potential risks associated with high-caffeine energy drinks are more pronounced. Excessive intake can lead to a range of issues, from jitters and insomnia to more severe cardiovascular problems.

Potential Concerns with High-Caffeine AriZona Energy Drinks:

Cardiovascular Strain: The high dose of caffeine and other stimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure, a risk for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
Anxiety and Insomnia: The potent stimulating effect can disrupt sleep patterns and exacerbate feelings of anxiety or restlessness.
Sugar Crash: The combination of high sugar and high caffeine can lead to an energy spike followed by a significant crash as the effects wear off.
Potential Drug Interactions: The mix of ingredients like ginseng and guarana has not been as extensively studied for long-term daily consumption as caffeine alone, and could interact with medications.

On the other hand, the standard iced teas offer a much milder caffeine lift, though the high sugar content should still be noted. Some AriZona varieties are now available in lower-calorie or zero-sugar formulations, offering a potentially healthier choice.

Conclusion

To put it simply, not all AriZona beverages are energy drinks. The company produces a wide range of products, with standard iced teas being low in caffeine and high in sugar, while specific lines like RX Energy and the new Fallout series are explicitly formulated as high-caffeine energy drinks. When choosing an AriZona product, always read the label carefully to identify its ingredients, especially the caffeine content and added stimulants like ginseng or guarana. This ensures you get the beverage that aligns with your specific nutritional needs and energy goals.

For more information on the ingredients and potential health effects of energy drinks, consult authoritative sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC.gov/school-nutrition/energy-drinks/index.html

Frequently Asked Questions

No, standard AriZona Green Tea is not an energy drink. It contains a small amount of naturally occurring caffeine from the tea leaves (around 15-20mg per large can), which is far less than a typical energy drink's caffeine content.

The RX Energy Herbal Tonic is an energy drink containing a higher level of caffeine, along with additional stimulants like guarana and panax ginseng, to provide a more potent energy boost than a standard iced tea.

The caffeine content varies by product. For example, the new AriZona x Fallout energy drinks contain 234mg of natural caffeine per 22oz can, significantly more than their traditional teas.

Many of AriZona's sweetened beverages, both iced teas and energy drinks, are high in sugar. However, they also offer unsweetened and zero-calorie options, so it's important to check the label.

Guarana is a plant extract used as a stimulant. It contains naturally occurring caffeine and is often added to energy drinks, like AriZona's RX Energy, to enhance the energizing effect.

Like any high-caffeine product, AriZona's energy drinks should be consumed in moderation, especially by adults. They are not recommended for children, pregnant women, or those sensitive to caffeine due to potential side effects like heart palpitations or insomnia.

Check the product label for specific energy-related claims, and look at the ingredient list for added stimulants like taurine or guarana. The caffeine content listed in the nutritional information is also a key indicator.