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Butterfly Pea Tea Recipe

Recipe by Judy Wilson

Discover how to make vibrant butterfly pea tea at home in just 10 minutes! This natural blue tea changes color with citrus and makes a stunning refreshing drink

  • Total Time5 minutes
  • Yield2 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Butterfly Pea Tea Base:

  • ¼ cup (about 10g) dried butterfly pea flowers
  • 2 cups (480ml) water
  • 2 glasses filled with ice

Optional Add-ins:

  • 1-2 tablespoons honey or simple syrup, to taste
  • Fresh lime or lemon juice, to taste (1-2 tablespoons usually works perfectly!)

Instructions

  1. Boil the water. Heat 2 cups of water in a kettle or pot until it reaches a full boil. Transfer the hot water to a glass measuring cup or heat-safe container.
  2. Add the flowers. Place the ¼ cup of dried butterfly pea flowers into the hot water. You’ll immediately notice the water starting to turn blue—that’s the magic beginning!
  3. Extract the color. Stir the flowers gently with a spoon, then use the back of the spoon to press the flowers against the side of the cup. This helps release more of that gorgeous blue color. (Don’t skip this step—it makes all the difference in achieving that deep, vibrant blue!)
  4. Steep and press. Continue pressing and stirring the flowers for 2-3 minutes until the tea reaches a deep indigo blue color. The longer you steep, the more intense the color will be!
  5. Strain the tea. Pour the tea through a fine mesh strainer into another container, discarding the used flowers. Your beautiful blue tea is now ready for the next step!
  6. Sweeten if desired. If you prefer a sweeter drink, now’s the time to add honey or simple syrup while the tea is still warm. Stir until completely dissolved.
  7. Prepare serving glasses. Fill two glasses with ice cubes. The ice not only keeps your drink refreshingly cold but also creates a beautiful contrast with the vibrant blue tea.
  8. Pour and serve. Carefully pour the blue tea over the ice in each glass. For the most dramatic presentation, serve it as is with lime or lemon wedges on the side so everyone can watch the color change when they add the citrus!

Notes

  • Water temperature matters! Always use fully boiling water for the best color extraction. If your water isn’t hot enough, you won’t get that vibrant blue we’re looking for.
  • Press those flowers! Don’t just let them steep passively; actively press them against the glass with your spoon to extract maximum color and flavor.
  • Quality matters. Look for high-quality dried butterfly pea flowers that are vibrant blue rather than faded or brownish. The fresher your dried flowers, the better your tea will taste!
  • Add sweeteners while warm. If you’re adding honey or simple syrup, mix it in while the tea is still warm for the best dissolution.
  • The lime juice effect. The acidic reaction is what creates the color change from blue to purple. For the most dramatic effect, add the lime juice at the table so you can witness the transformation in real-time!
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Drinks
  • Cuisine: Thailand

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Sodium: 24mg
  • Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 14g

Find it online: https://cuisineburst.com/butterfly-pea-tea-recipe/