When you go to a gas station or convenience store to pick up something to drink, I am sure you have noticed the vibrant cans of Arizona tea and other Arizona beverages. (Cherry Lime Ricky was always my favorite.) Well, that Arizona packaging really caught my eye the other day when I was at our Hy-Vee and saw the familiar designs in with the fruit snacks. So on today’s mini(ish) Quest for the Best episode, we are trying the three flavors of the new Arizona Fruit Snacks.
Who are our Questers today?
Kris, microphone smacker.
Nate, what’s with the colors?!
Matt, a quiet boy.
Amy, send me to night school.
A History of AriZona Beverages
AriZona Beverages is a relatively young company. Born in the heart of Brooklyn in 1992, AriZona came onto the scene with a fresh take on iced tea, using high-quality ingredients, and presented in packaging that stood out from the competition. Top that off with the fact that even with all the inflation, AriZona is still 99 cents a can.
AriZona Beverages was co founded by Don Vultaggio, who was inspired by Snapple. Already having success with a malt liquor business, Don and his partners decided to sell iced tea in the same-sized 23-ounce can as the malt liquor to stand out from the Snapple 16-ounce can. He wanted the tea and the style to feel healthy and clean, and really fit the climate that made you want to drink refreshing iced tea. They named the beverage AriZona and history was made.
Since the start of the company, AriZona's product line has boomed beyond tea. Fruity drinks, snacks, candy, coffee, and alcohol, all in eye-catching packaging and for a fair price. All these things have really put them on the map and in the stomachs of millions of people.
The Results
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!
Arizona Arnold Palmer Fruit Snacks
Nate: “This is a gummy and it has a flavor to it.” 3/10
Amy: “I don’t like them, I don’t dislike them.” 5/10
Kris: “That’s not what a fruit snack should be, but the strawberry and mango are good.” 6/10
Matt: “I pity the people who buy these.” 4/10
TOTAL: 18/40
Arizona Green Tea Fruit Snacks
Nate: “It looks like deer turds.” 3/10
Amy: “That’s a hard pass for me.” 2/10
Kris: “That’s like if I rung out a baby’s wet diaper into my mouth.” 1/10
Matt: “These are the weirdest fruit snacks I have ever eaten.” 4/10
TOTAL: 10/40
There you have it. We do NOT give the Arizona Fruit Snacks the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give them a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.
https://drinkarizona.com/collections/snacks
Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next, along with your thoughts on this episode.
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Show Notes:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/27/business-food/arizona-tea-name-origin
MINI EPISODE: AriZona Fruit Snacks!