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Bring a little wonder to your day with this butterfly pea flower tea latte. Add a bit of lemon and watch the blue change to a bright purple right in your cup. It looks jaw-dropping and tastes just as good.
Found butterfly pea flower tea while traveling the markets in Thailand. The wild color shift blew my mind! After plenty of home experiments, I settled on this version whenever friends drop in. Now everyone asks for their "crazy blue latte" before I even say hello.
Wonderful Ingredients
- Dried butterfly pea flowers: This is your color star. Try to find organic—you’ll get pure flavor and an eye-catching blue.
- Hot water: Heat it up but don’t boil, so your tea turns vivid blue with no bitter taste.
- Milk: Creaminess comes from any milk—go with coconut or almond for a twist, or keep it classic.
- Honey or sweetener: Raw honey works well, or mix things up with maple syrup—it softens the earthy notes.
- Ice cubes: Keeps things frosty. Pro tip: freeze your brewed tea for ultra-flavorful ice.
- Lemon juice: The magic touch that flips your drink from blue to purple right before your eyes. Fresh lemons bring out the best color and flavor.
Simple How-To Steps
- Make the Tea:
- Steep those pea flowers in hot water (not boiling) for a good five to seven minutes. You’ll spot the water turning a deep blue. Too short, and you’ll miss the color; too long and it’s bitter. Glass teapots show off the color beautifully.
- Sweeten It:
- Next, blend in your sweetener with the warm tea. Stir gently—you want it all smooth and clear without cloudiness. Try a sip and see if you want it sweeter.
- Foam It Up:
- Time for foam! Pour your cold milk into a jar and shake it hard for about 45 seconds. Chill it for half a minute, and you’ll get a nice layer of foam.
- Layering:
- Toss ice cubes in your glass. Pour your blue tea down the back of a spoon for a soft layer. Carefully flow the milk along the edge for pretty stripes.
- Color Change:
- Ready for a show? Add the lemon juice last, right on top. The acidity shifts the blue to a vibrant purple and gives you a cool ombré look from the bottom up.
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The best thing about this drink is seeing kitchen science in action. Once showed the color shift to my niece at a family get-together—her eyes went huge when blue turned to purple. She said it was real magic and wanted to mix her own. I’ll never forget it.
Chill & Store the Drink
Prepped your butterfly pea tea early? Just put it in a covered jar in the fridge—it’ll keep for about three days. Keep it out of sunlight or the colors can fade. Build your latte right before serving for that sharp foam and dramatic layers.
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Fun Add-Ons
Mix it up your way—add a splash of vanilla or a bit of lavender for extra flower notes. Go island style by using coconut water in place of half the hot water, then switch to coconut milk for silky smoothness. Want to impress at your next BBQ? Freeze edible flowers into the tea for wow-factor ice cubes that color your latte as they melt.
Big Perks
This flower’s been used in old-school medicine forever. Not only is it striking, but it’s loaded with anthocyanins—those are antioxidants that are seriously good for you. Drink it often and you might boost your memory or relax some swelling. Skip the sweetener and it’s got no calories or caffeine, so you can keep sipping day or night, hassle free.
How to Serve Up
Use a clear glass to show off those bold blue and purple streaks. Want an upgrade? Wipe honey around the glass rim, roll it in dried petals. It’s a sweet match with coconut pudding, lemon cookies, or a bunch of fresh fruit—especially great for brunch spreads.
Common Questions
- → What exactly is butterfly pea tea?
Steep butterfly pea flowers in hot water and you get an amazing blue drink with a light, floral flavor.
- → Why does the color switch when I add lemon?
Lemon juice makes the tea’s color switch from blue to a cool purple because it changes the drink’s acidity.
- → Is plant-based milk cool here?
Absolutely. Swap in oat, coconut, or almond milk for a creamy twist—super tasty too.
- → Which sweeteners work best?
Pick honey, regular sugar, agave, or anything you like to sweeten things up. It’s totally your call!
- → Can you enjoy this hot?
Yep! Ditch the ice and mix it all with hot milk for a lovely warm drink.