This isn’t just a can of tea—it’s a battleground for trust. Reddit users are flooding forums with tales of floating gunk in AriZona Iced Tea cans, describing it as “worms in my mouth” and warning of mold. The brand’s response? Blame storage practices and deflect responsibility, while tea experts reveal the truth: it’s not mold. It’s a SCOBY.
The complaints are visceral. One user reports slurping down a “floating substance” in their green tea with ginseng and honey, another describes a similar experience with Sweet Tea. Dozens echo the sentiment, claiming they’ve stopped buying the product. AriZona moderators pivot blame, urging consumers to report “defects” on their site rather than Reddit. But the damage is done. The panic is real, and the brand’s deflection only fuels distrust.
What’s a SCOBY? It’s a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, the living essence of kombucha. Fermented sweetened tea, it’s gelatinous, round, and vinegary—harmless unless it shows fuzzy black or green mold. AriZona’s cans are a perfect SCOBY incubator. Tea, sugar, airtight packaging, and long shelf life? That’s a recipe for fermentation. The carbohydrates in the tea get converted into alcohol or acid, birthing the SCOBY. The result? A tea that’s essentially kombucha.
But here’s the catch: consumers paid for tea, not kombucha. One redditor argues, “That doesn’t help anyone when we purchased Arizona TEA and not Arizona KOMBUCHA.” The confusion is real. While experts clarify the SCOBY isn’t mold, the myth persists. Reddit threads amplify fear, turning a technicality into a crisis. AriZona’s silence on the issue only deepens the divide.
Consumers are caught between a lack of transparency and a product that’s technically safe but feels dangerous.
AriZona’s cans are a perfect SCOBY incubator due to their sweet, tea-based formula and airtight packaging. Consumers are caught between a lack of transparency and a product that’s technically safe but feels dangerous.
What’s your take? Have you ever opened an AriZona can and found something unexpected? Share your story below.
Questions & Answers
Why do Redditors refuse to drink Arizona Iced Tea from the can?
Redditors avoid Arizona Iced Tea from cans due to its artificial sweetener, acesulfame potassium, which many find unpalatable and associated with a cheap, artificial taste.
Is Arizona Iced Tea healthy?
Arizona Iced Tea is not considered healthy due to its high sugar content and artificial sweeteners, which can contribute to health issues like weight gain and metabolic problems.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
