Top Unsweetened Iced Tea Brands for a Refreshing Sip

The popularity of unsweetened iced tea has grown immensely over the years, as health-conscious consumers seek refreshing beverages without added sugars or artificial sweeteners. As a result, a variety of brands have emerged as leaders in the market, offering distinct blends that cater to different palates. From classic black tea infusions to innovative herbal varieties, each brand brings something unique to the table, ensuring there's an option for every iced tea enthusiast. To discover some of the best brands for unsweetened iced tea, continue reading below.

Illustration of unsweetened iced tea

Best brands of unsweetened iced tea in 2025

Pure Leaf

Pure Leaf is a leading brand in the iced tea market, particularly renowned for its unsweetened iced tea offerings. Made from ethically sourced, high-quality tea leaves, Pure Leaf's Unsweetened Black Tea is brewed without added sugar or color, providing a refreshing and freshly brewed taste. In 2023, Pure Leaf was the best-selling canned and bottled ready-to-drink tea brand in U.S. convenience stores, with dollar sales reaching approximately $392 million. The brand's Lower Sugar iced teas contain 20 calories and 5 grams of added real sugar, a significant reduction of 85% compared to their Sweet Tea offering. Pure Leaf's commitment to sustainability and real brewed tea has made it a favorite among consumers. For more detailed information, visit their official website.

Arizona

AriZona Beverage Co. stands as a leading producer of unsweetened iced tea, commanding a significant 15.7% market share of the U.S. ready-to-drink (RTD) tea category as of 2021, second only to Pepsi-Lipton. Since its launch in 1992, AriZona has maintained its popularity with its iconic 23-ounce cans priced at 99 cents, a strategy that has helped the brand retain loyal customers and attract new generations. The company sold over a billion cans of its 99-cent variety in recent years, highlighting its enduring success. AriZona's commitment to its pricing and unique packaging has been crucial in its market presence. The brand continues to grow, with the overall RTD tea market forecast to reach $9.9 billion by 2026. For more information about their products, visit AriZona's official website.

Tejava

Tejava is renowned as one of the best producers of unsweetened iced tea, known for its bold yet smooth flavor and lack of added preservatives. It has won several awards, including being a nine-time winner of the Global Tea Championship(tm) and first place at the North American Tea Championship from 2011-2014. Tejava's tea is made from simple ingredients: tea leaves and water, and it is fully pasteurized under controlled conditions. The brand is popular for its consistent flavor and absence of acidic taste, making it a favorite among those seeking a fresh-brewed taste in a bottled tea. Tejava is widely available at stores like Trader Joe's and Target. For more information, visit their official website.

Tazo

Tazo is a renowned brand in the iced tea market, particularly noted for its unsweetened iced tea products that blend unique ingredients like hibiscus flowers, orange peel, and passion fruit flavor. The brand has seen significant growth, with revenue for Tazo iced tea bags rising by 3,196 percent between March and April, highlighting its popularity among consumers. Tazo's products are part of the broader iced tea market, which is projected to grow at a 6.0% CAGR until 2034, reaching a market size of USD 12,132 million. The brand's focus on natural and flavorful ingredients aligns with consumer trends favoring healthier and more differentiated beverage options. Tazo's success is also reflected in its inclusion among leading brands in the competitive iced tea industry.

Honest Tea

Honest Tea, a pioneering brand in the iced tea market, is renowned for its less-sweet and organic offerings. Founded in 1998, Honest Tea was the first to commercialize organic bottled tea in 1999 and achieved full fair-trade certification for its entire line by 2011. The brand's commitment to using straightforward, organic ingredients and fair-trade practices resonated with consumers, leading to significant market expansion from 15,000 to 150,000 stores. Despite its discontinuation by Coca-Cola, Honest Tea's legacy continues through its successor, JUST ICE Tea, which has quickly become a top ready-to-drink tea brand at Whole Foods Market and other natural retailers.

Gold Peak

Gold Peak is a leading brand in the iced tea market, particularly renowned for its unsweetened iced tea offerings. Launched in 2006, Gold Peak has been growing at double-digit rates and is one of the fastest-growing national iced tea brands, driving nearly 30% of all dollar growth in the ready-to-drink tea category in 2014. The brand is part of The Coca-Cola Company's portfolio and has achieved billion-dollar status, contributing significantly to the company's tea portfolio growth. Gold Peak's success is attributed to its real brewed tea made from tea leaves picked for peak taste, available in various flavors including unsweetened options. In the U.S. market, Gold Peak holds a substantial market share, with dollar sales of $477 million in the RTD tea category as of recent data. For more information, visit their official website.

Tradewinds

Tradewinds, a brand under Nestle Waters North America, is recognized for its high-quality unsweetened iced tea products. In 2017, Tradewinds tea in cans and bottles generated $35 million in sales across various retail channels, including food and drug stores, convenience stores, and department stores. The brand is part of Nestle's strategy to capture the growing iced tea market, which saw a significant increase in ready-to-drink tea sales, with RTD tea accounting for over 30% of the total U.S. tea market volume by 2012. Despite a 17% decline in overall sales for the year, Tradewinds remains a notable player in the premium tier of iced tea brands. The iced tea market, which includes brands like Tradewinds, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6% from 2024 to 2034, reaching a value of $12,132 million by 2034. For more insights, visit the Nestle strategic updates on Tradewinds.

Snapple

Snapple, owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, is a prominent brand in the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea market, known for its diverse range of iced tea flavors, including unsweetened options. In 2019, Snapple Tea held a 6.3 percent share of the RTD tea market in the United States. The brand has been a staple since its inception in 1972 and expanded its product line to include tea in 1987. Snapple's commitment to quality and variety has made it a favorite among consumers seeking healthier beverage options. The brand's market presence is expected to grow as consumers increasingly prefer sugar-free and naturally made beverages. For more information about their products, visit the Snapple website.

Lipton

Lipton, a renowned brand in the tea industry, stands out as a top producer of unsweetened iced tea, with a market share of 14.3% in the tea bags and loose-leaf category and 12.3% in the canned and bottled tea segment as of 2023. Lipton's RTD beverages are sold through Pepsi Lipton International, a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo, ensuring wide distribution and brand familiarity. In the 52 weeks ending May 21, Lipton's sales in the canned and bottled tea market were $561 million, with a slight increase of 0.5%. Lipton's iced tea products, such as the Green Citrus flavor, offer a refreshing and tangy taste with 120 calories per 16.9 FL oz serving. The brand's long history, dating back to 1890 when it was founded by Sir Thomas Lipton, adds to its credibility and consumer trust.

Sweet Leaf

Sweet Leaf Tea, though no longer under Nestle after its sale in 2017, was notable for its pure-cane sugar sweetened and unsweetened iced tea offerings. At the time of its sale, Sweet Leaf tea and lemonades generated $10 million in annual sales, while Tradewinds tea, another brand under the same umbrella, earned $35 million in various retail outlets. Despite the change in ownership, Sweet Leaf's products remained popular for their natural ingredients and lower sugar content, aligning with consumer trends favoring healthier beverage options. The brand's focus on quality and consumer preferences contributed to its market presence, even though it faced sales declines in the year preceding the sale. Sweet Leaf's legacy continues to influence the iced tea market with its emphasis on natural and low-sugar products. For more details on the sale of Sweet Leaf Tea and Tradewinds, visit World Tea News.