This shop has ben compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MeAndMyTea #CollectiveBias

My brother and I spent every summer in Chicago with my grandmother.  It wasn’t a thing for my parents to make the four hour drive to Chicago from Michigan to visit and leave us there. My grandmother (who was actually my great grandmother) lived in a not so great neighborhood on the Chicago’s south side. When she purchased the house back in the 60s it was a thriving neighborhood but by the time the 80s came around it had gone down hill. Which ironically now it’s going through gentrification, so it’s on its way back. Because she lived in a sketchy neighborhood, we weren’t allowed to play outside in the front yard.  My grandmother wanted to keep us safe because gang activity was rampant during that time.

Black family in the 80s.
My family in front of my grandmother’s house. (I’m taking the picture.) My grandmother, mom, dad and brother are in the center.
Old kitchen.
Me in my grandmother’s kitchen in Chicago.

Being cooped up in an old house without an air conditioner during the summer doesn’t sound fun, but we made the most of it. My grandmother had a sunroom in the front of her house with a swing where we would hang out all day to stay cool. There was a little black and white TV that we would watch on occasions but mostly we would just sit, chat and drink iced tea. My grandmother never allowed us to drink pop (or ‘soda’ if you aren’t in the Midwest). We had two choices – tea or lemonade. ‘Till this day I get nostalgic whenever I have iced tea. Drinking iced tea during those bonding moments with my grandmother have become a regular routine for me. I drink tea and eat a bagel in the car every morning while I’m on my way to work. It’s part of my morning routine.  I’ve even perfected her sweat tea recipe but only drink that on special occasions. You know I’m trying to keep my girlish figure.

Black grandmother and granddaughter.
My grandmother and I in Chicago.

I don’t recall my grandmother liking specialty flavors. I’m not even sure that there were many varieties back then aside from the traditional Earl Grey or Black tea. I’m really picky about my tea. No ‘top soil tea’ for me. Bigelow Tea is a great brand because they have been in the biz for 70 years and offer over 130 varieties of flavors. Let’s just say they know a thing or two – or three about tea. Bigelow blends a variety of traditional and healthy ingredients without compromising the quality nor the taste.

Bigelow Iced Tea Occasions
Walmart
Bigelow Iced Tea Occasions with Walmart
Bigelow Iced Tea Occasions

Now that I’m grown, I can buy my own tea and experiment with flavors. I choose to buy my favorite flavors of Bigelow Iced Tea from Walmart because I like to save money. I’m an avid couponer and this blog began as a discount and frugal find blog. Just because I don’t write about that many deals and steals anymore doesn’t mean I’m not still saving money when I shop. Couponing was one of the only New Year Resolutions I have ever conquered aside from this year’s travel resolution. Walmart – hands down – has the best deals. My local Walmart has a grocery section too, so it’s one stop shopping.

Bigelow Iced Tea Half and Half.
Getting ready to make me a pitcher of Bigelow Iced Tea Half and Half.

It’s been almost 10 years since my grandmother has passed but she lived a long life. 99 years to be exact. Although she isn’t here anymore, I’m able to smile to myself when I’m sipping on a cold iced tea on a hot summer day thinking about her and the fun times we shared. But this time on my deck.

Are you a tea drinker? What are your favorite flavors?