Tazo Chai Tea: Sweet Meets Spicy in the Most Wonderful Way! #sweetmeetsspicy #sponsored

So Smiley360 was cool enough to hook me up with a chance to try out the Tazo Chai Teas. I have a love of tea that goes back to my way younger years, so I was very excited.

What is Tazo Chai?

From the website:

Steeped in 5,000 years of Indian history, chai is a black tea blend as complex as it is rich. Tazo brings together the best ingredients from across the globe to honor this ancient tradition. Sweet cinnamon and creamy vanilla meet spicy black pepper, fragrant cardamom and bold star anise in this unforgettable beverage.

What does that mean? It's a total sensory experience. The scent and flavor completely immerse you in beauty. It's just that good. It's available in both filter bags and boxed liquid concentrate in Classic, Organic, Decaf, Vanilla Caramel, Chocolate, and Pumpkin Spice, and can be enjoyed either hot or iced.

So what could be better than that?

How about cupcakes?

Yes, indeedy. Cupcakes made with Tazo Chai Pumpkin Spice Latte concentrate, and topped with Pumpkin Spice Chai buttercream frosting. Intrigued? Here's how to make them. My inspiration came from this recipe.

Tazo Chai Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp cardamom
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup Tazo Chai Pumpkin Spice Latte concentrate
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line pans with cupcake liners.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together.

Combine the chai concentrate and milk together in another bowl, stirring well.

In a big bowl, whisk the eggs for 20 seconds, then add the sugar and whisk 30 more seconds. Add oil and vanilla, and whisk until well combined.

Alternately pour in the flour mixture and chai mixture, beating until completely combined. Pour into lined cupcake pans.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a probe inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp chai concentrate, divided

Reduce the 1/2 cup of chai concentrate over medium heat until it's down to about 2 tsp. It will thicken, but it should still stay a liquid. It thickens a bit as it cools, so watch for that. Cool in refrigerator.

Beat butter until smooth. Add 1 cup of sugar and combine.

Add the 2 tbsp of unreduced chai concentrate and combine. Add the remaining sugar in 1/2 cup increments, combining after each.

Add the cooled, reduced chai concentrate and combine on high to mix completely.

Frost and enjoy! I used a pastry bag myself.

And what more appropriate accompaniment than a hot cup of the same Tazo Chai?

An interesting side effect of making this recipe is that your house will smell FANTASTIC. Between the baking and the chai reduction, the spicy scent permeates everywhere...it is truly wonderful. You really gotta try this tea, whatever you do with it. They're all SO yum.

I received a free product from Smiley360 for testing and review purposes. My opinions and old-school tea set are my own.