Butterfly Pea Flower Tea: The Tea That Will Color Your World
The art of drinking tea is one steeped in history and visual pleasures. From the stunning beauty of the traditional Japanese ceremony to the joy of sipping a cool glass of bright red hibiscus iced tea, drinking tea is a real treat.
The latest trend on the tea scene is color-changing teas. In particular, butterfly pea flower tea is taking the tea world by storm with its vibrant characteristics and fun brewing visuals. Learn more about butterfly pea flower tea and how to brew it right here.
Want to brew color-changing tea today? Check out our Butterfly Pea Flower Tea right here for a visual treat.
What Is Butterfly Pea Flower Tea?
Butterfly pea flower tea is made from the petals of the Clitoria ternatea plant. The butterfly pea plant features feminine blue flower petals with vibrant purple undertones and is native to Southeast Asia. It is commonly served in Thai restaurants and pairs well with Asian cuisine. It's vibrant color properties also make it a common additive to food dyes and food coloring.
Butterfly pea flower tea is also commonly called blue tea, Asian pigeonwings, and magic fairy tea. The herbal tea is caffeine-free and offers an earthy flavor similar to green tea. The main draw of this tea aside from its tasty flavor is its ability to change color when new ingredients are added.
As the pH level of the tea changes, so does the color of the tea. When brewed by itself, the tea is a rich blue color. When an acidic element like lemon juice is added, the tea turns a deep purple color. If hibiscus flowers are added, the tea changes color to a bright red or fuchsia hue.
Health Benefits of Butterfly Pea Tea
The vibrant color properties of the tea have made it a popular tea and cocktail thanks to its mood ring-esque qualities. It's also an ingredient in many herbal remedies.
Some of the purported benefits of butterfly pea tea include heart health and immune system benefits. Animal research shows the tea may help to modulate blood sugar levels (1). Additional research shows the tea contains flavonoids, anthocyanins, triterpenoids, and saponins, which may be beneficial for immunity (2).
How to Make Butterfly Pea Tea
Butterfly pea tea can be made a variety of ways. The traditional brewing method of the herbal tisane is known as Nam Dok Anchan, which blends the flower petals with honey, ginger, and mint. Here, we've put together a simple brewing recipe that allows you to experiment with ingredients to change the color before your eyes.
Hot Butterfly Pea Tea
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon Cup & Leaf Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
- 10 ounces of water
- A squeeze of lemon
Instructions:
- Bring water to a rapid boil in a large saucepan on the stove.
- Add the tea leaves to the hot water and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Pour the tea concentrate into a glass tea cup. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into the cup and watch the deep blue color turn vibrant purple.
If you want the tea to change different colors, focus on changing the pH level. Adding acidic ingredients will turn the tea dark purple while more basic ingredients turn it fire red. For red hues, try adding hibiscus flowers.
Chamomile Lemongrass, Hibiscus, and Butterfly Pea Iced Tea Recipe
This tea packs a punch when it comes to floral flavor. The hibiscus petals add a sweet and tart flavor while the lemongrass adds a touch of earthy notes. The chamomile helps to boost relaxation and adds crisp notes that heighten the floral flavor of butterfly pea tea.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons Cup & Leaf Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
- 2 teaspoons Cup & Leaf Chamomile Lemongrass Tea
- 2 teaspoons Cup & Leaf Egyptian Hibiscus Petal Tea
- 8 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions:
- Bring water to a rapid boil in a pan on the stove.
- Remove from heat and add the tea leaves to the hot water. Let the mixture steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove the leaves and petals and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Pour the tea concentrate into a large glass pitcher. Serve in glasses filled with ice cubes and toast to beautiful tea.
Beautiful Butterfly Pea Tea
Butterfly pea tea is a tea drink that has taken the United States by storm. It's a tasty tea with earthy and floral notes that changes color when the pH level is altered. The addition of lemon juice turns the tea deep purple while adding hibiscus petals turns it a fire red hue. Discover the beauty of tea drinking with this delicious color-changing tea that is then perfect addition to any tea party or afternoon tea.
Sources:
1. https://www.japsonline.com/admin/php/uploads/1589_pdf.pdf
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