Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Lemonade

This magical drink captivates with its dramatic color transformation upon mixing. Dried butterfly pea flowers are steeped to create a deep indigo tea, which contains natural pigments that react to changes in pH. When this blue tea is combined with acidic lemonade, it instantly changes to a beautiful violet or magenta hue. It's a simple yet impressive beverage, perfect for parties, brunches, or a refreshing afternoon treat that delights both the eyes and the palate.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Lemonade

Preparation

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

This beverage is primarily classified as a non-alcoholic tea drink due to its base of butterfly pea flower tea. It also fits perfectly into the mocktail category, offering a sophisticated and fun alternative to alcoholic cocktails. It's a refreshing, visually appealing drink suitable for all ages.

Serving

This drink is served cold in a tall Highball or Collins glass to showcase its beautiful layers and color change. It is a completely non-alcoholic beverage, making it suitable for everyone.
Serving size
Approximately 300 ml / 10 oz
Alcohol content
0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Highball
Glass treatment
None

Backstory

The drink's "magic" is pure science, stemming from the anthocyanin pigments in the butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea), which are natural pH indicators. This color-changing property has been utilized for centuries in traditional Southeast Asian cuisine. In recent years, its popularity has surged globally through social media, where its photogenic quality has made it a star in the world of modern mixology and creative beverages.
Origin
The use of butterfly pea flower tea is traditional in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam, where it is often served as a welcome drink called 'nam dok anchan'. The specific combination with lemonade is a modern, globalized adaptation that became widely popular in the late 2010s, largely driven by its visual appeal on social media platforms like Instagram.

Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Lemonade

This drink is widely known by several descriptive names that highlight its unique visual effect. "Magic Lemonade" and "Color-Changing Lemonade" directly refer to its transformation from blue to purple when mixed. "Galaxy Lemonade" evokes the deep, swirling blue and purple colors that resemble a nebula or galaxy.
Original name
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Lemonade
Alternative names
  • Magic Lemonade
  • Galaxy Lemonade
  • Color-Changing Lemonade

Characteristics overview

This drink offers a delightful balance of sweet and sour flavors with subtle floral and earthy notes from the tea. Its appearance is its most striking feature, changing from a layered blue and yellow to a vibrant purple, making for a refreshing and visually captivating summer beverage.
Flavor
Sweet, Tart, Floral, Lemony, Earthy
Aroma
Floral, Citrusy
Taste balance
Sweet, Sour
Aftertaste
Clean, Refreshing
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Layered, Color-changing, Blue, Purple, Vibrant, Clear
Texture
Smooth, Light, Watery
Seasonality
Refreshing, Summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is dominated by a pleasant sourness from the lemon, balanced by moderate sweetness and fruitiness. It is a completely non-alcoholic, non-creamy, and still beverage with very low bitterness, making it highly refreshing and easy to drink.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

The core ingredients are dried butterfly pea flowers to make a tea and a quality lemonade for the acidic base. Ice is essential for chilling, and an optional sweetener like simple syrup can be added to adjust the taste.
  • Dried Butterfly Pea Flowers1 tablespoon
    These provide the distinct blue color and floral, earthy flavor.
  • Hot Water240 ml / 8 oz
    For steeping the tea. Should be just off the boil.
  • Lemonade180 ml / 6 oz
    Freshly made or a high-quality store-bought lemonade works best. The acidity is crucial for the color change.
  • Ice CubesFill the glass
    For chilling the drink.
  • Simple Syrup15 ml / 0.5 oz, or to taste(optional)
    Use if your lemonade is not sweet enough or if you prefer a sweeter drink.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

Basic kitchen equipment is all that's needed. You'll require a way to steep and strain the tea, along with measuring cups for proportions and a spoon for layering and stirring.
  • Tea infuser or fine-mesh strainer
  • Measuring cups
  • Long spoon or stirrer

Instructions

The process involves steeping and cooling the butterfly pea flower tea, then layering it over iced lemonade in a tall glass. The final, crucial step is the stir, which triggers the dramatic color transformation for an interactive experience.
1. Place the dried butterfly pea flowers in a heatproof container and pour the hot water over them. Let steep for 5-7 minutes until the water is a deep, vibrant blue.
2. Strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the flowers. Allow the tea to cool completely; place it in the refrigerator to accelerate the process.
3. Fill a highball glass to the top with ice cubes.
4. Pour the lemonade over the ice, filling the glass about two-thirds of the way. If using, add simple syrup now.
5. To create the layered effect, slowly pour the cooled butterfly pea flower tea over the back of a spoon held just above the surface of the lemonade.
6. Garnish with a lemon wheel or a sprig of fresh mint.
7. Serve immediately with a straw, and instruct the guest to stir before drinking to witness the magical color change.

Garnishing

A simple garnish like a lemon wheel complements the drink's flavor and enhances its visual appeal. Adding a sprig of mint can introduce a fresh aroma that pairs well with the citrus and floral notes.
  • Lemon wheel or wedge on the rim of the glass.
  • A sprig of fresh mint for extra aroma and color contrast.

Dietary Information

This drink is naturally caffeine-free as butterfly pea flower is an herbal tea. It is also vegan and free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, and nuts, making it a suitable choice for a wide range of dietary preferences.
✕ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

The nutritional content is primarily from the lemonade, making it moderately high in sugar and carbohydrates. Its calorie count is relatively low for a sweet beverage, but most of it comes from sugar.
Calories
Approximately 100-120 kcal / 418-502 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 25-30 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 25-30 g
Sugar level

Occasions

With its impressive visual effect and refreshing taste, this drink is perfect for celebratory occasions like summer parties, brunches, and baby showers. Its non-alcoholic nature also makes it a fantastic and fun option for kids' parties. It serves as a delightful afternoon pick-me-up on a warm day.
  • Summer Parties
  • Brunches
  • Kids' Parties
  • Baby Showers
  • Afternoon Refresher

Pairing suggestions

This drink pairs wonderfully with light and fresh foods. Its sweet and tart profile complements brunch dishes, salads, and grilled proteins. It's also an excellent standalone refreshment to enjoy with a platter of fresh fruit on a warm day.
  • Light salads with citrus vinaigrette
  • Fresh fruit platters
  • Brunch items like scones, quiche, or avocado toast
  • Grilled white fish or chicken

The Magic of Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Lemonade

Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Lemonade is a captivating non-alcoholic beverage known for its mesmerizing color change from deep blue to vibrant purple upon mixing. It combines the earthy, floral notes of butterfly pea tea with the sweet and tart refreshment of classic lemonade. Easy to prepare and visually stunning, it's an ideal choice for celebrations, summer gatherings, or simply as a fun and magical drink experience for all ages. The interactive element of stirring to change the color makes it a memorable drink for guests.

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