Butterfly Pea Tea
just discovered butterfly pea tea last month and omg its become my obsession!! these tiny blue flowers make the prettiest drink ever n its sooo easy. butterfly pea tea looks fancy but literally takes 5 mins to make. been making it for everyone who comes over and they all want the recipe!! the color-changing thing is just crazy cool.
Why u need to try this butterfly pea tea asap
ok so butterfly tea is literally the easiest impressive drink ever. i used to spend $$$ on fancy blue drinks at cafes before i figured out how simple this is to make at home!
my mom came to visit last week n i made her some butterfly pea tea w/ a bit of honey. she took ONE sip and was like “why haven’t u been making this for me before?!” now she texts me pics whenever she makes it lol.
u can have it hot when its cold out or make it iced for summer days. add whatever sweetener u like or mix w/ other stuff. super flexible!
lets get to the good stuff – how to actually make this butterfly pea flower tea!
What u need for butterfly pea tea
basic stuff:
- bout 1-2 tbsp dried butterfly pea flowers – these r what makes the tea BLUE!
- 2 cups water – filtered is best but tap works too
- honey or sugar if u want it sweet – totally optional tho
- lemon juice or lime – for the cool color changing trick
took me forever to find butterfly pea flowers near me! finally found em at a small asian market. if u cant find em just order online – way easier. make sure ur getting good quality ones cuz some places sell em with tons of stems n stuff.
nice thing bout butterfly pea tea is no caffeine so u can drink it anytime! ive had it right before bed n slept great.
How 2 make butterfly pea tea – super easy!!
- heat up ur water til its hot but not crazy boiling. if u have a thermometer aim for like 180ish degrees or just take it off right b4 it starts rolling boil.
- put the dried butterfly pea flowers in whatever ur brewing in. i use like 1-2 tbsp for 2 cups water depending how strong i want it.
- pour hot water over n watch it turn BLUE instantly!! so cool every time. let it sit for like 5 mins, maybe 10 if u want it stronger.
- strain out the flowers n now u got this crazy blue drink that looks photoshopped irl!
- add honey or whatever if u want it sweeter. the taste by itself is pretty mild tbh.
- heres the fun part – squeeze some lemon in n watch it turn purple!! everyone freaks out when they see this part. great for kids or parties!
for iced just let it cool then refrigerate. i make a big batch on sundays n drink it all week. sooo good when its hot out!
My top 5 ways 2 customize ur butterfly tea
coconut butterfly tea
use coconut water instead of regular water n add a tiny bit of coconut milk. tastes tropical n looks awesome!
blue chai
add some cinnamon, ginger, cardamom n cloves when steeping. warm n cozy for cold days!
blue bubble tea
add some cooked tapioca pearls, ice n a splash of sweetened condensed milk. the pearls look so cool against the blue!!
blue tea lemonade
mix cold butterfly pea tea w half lemonade. the color gradient u get is insane n tastes amazing.
butterfly pea tea w mint + lime
steep w fresh mint leaves n add lime instead of lemon. super refreshing n the mint looks pretty floating in it.
Butterfly Pea Tea Recipe
Equipment
- Kettle or pot for boiling water
- Strainer or tea infuser
- Cup or teapot
- Spoon
- Lemon juicer (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 –2 tbsp dried butterfly pea flowers
- 2 cups filtered water
- 1 tsp honey or sugar optional, to taste
- 1 –2 tsp lemon juice or lime juice for color change
Instructions
- Heat water until just below boiling (about 180°F / 82°C).
- Add dried butterfly pea flowers to a teapot or infuser.
- Pour the hot water over the flowers and steep for 5–10 minutes.
- Strain out the flowers.
- Sweeten with honey or sugar if desired.
- Add lemon or lime juice to watch the tea change from blue to purple.
- Serve hot, or chill in the fridge for iced tea.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Answers 2 ur butterfly pea tea questions
What does drinking butterfly pea tea do?
butterfly pea tea has tons of antioxidants that r good for ur body. lots of my friends drink it for better skin, improving digestion, n less stress. been having it almost every day for a few weeks n my skin def looks better! not sure if its just cuz im drinking more liquid or the tea itself but whatever works right?? the blue color comes from anthocyanins which r same things in blueberries that make em so healthy. plus its just nice to drink something pretty thats not full of fake stuff.
Who should not drink butterfly pea tea?
if ur pregnant probs check w ur doctor first before drinking lots of butterfly pea tea. just not enough research on it during pregnancy. also if ur allergic to flowers maybe try just a tiny bit first to make sure u dont react weird. my friend has pollen allergies n she was fine but everyone’s different. if ur on serious meds especially for blood pressure or blood thinners maybe mention it to ur doc since herbs can sometimes mess w medications. better safe than sorry!
What are the disadvantages of butterfly pea tea?
honestly havent found many downsides to butterfly pea tea. some might think it tastes kinda bland compared to regular tea. it can be sorta expensive depending where u buy the flowers. i spilled some on my white countertop n it stained blue for like a day lol so be careful there. my cousin said it gave her a slight tummy ache when she had like 3 cups in a row but shes sensitive to everything so 🤷♀️ just dont go crazy w it at first maybe?
What does butterfly pea tea taste like?
butterfly pea flower tea has a super mild taste thats kinda earthy but not strong at all. if ur expecting something intense like coffee or black tea ull be disappointed. its veryyyy subtle – almost like slightly sweet water w a hint of something planty? not in a bad way tho! the flavor is so gentle that it works great w adding other stuff to it. some people say it tastes like a super watered down green tea but more floral. def not bitter at all!!
How does butterfly pea make you feel?
whenever i drink butterfly pea tea i feel weirdly calm but not sleepy. its different from chamomile that makes me wanna nap. since theres no caffeine u dont get jittery or crash later which is nice. lots of people say it helps w focus n clarity – i def notice i can concentrate better on work after having some! the color itself is such a mood booster – something bout that blue is just happy? sounds silly but sometimes when im stressed i just sit n stare at the color changing when i add lemon – oddly satisfying n calming!
How 2 store ur butterfly pea tea stuff
keep the dried flowers in a container thats sealed tight away from light. mine have lasted like 10 months this way!
if u make a big batch of tea itll stay good in the fridge for bout 3-4 days. the color fades a little but still looks cool.
pro tip: freeze butterfly tea in ice cube trays!! these blue ice cubes r AMAZING in lemonade or sprite or even cocktails if thats ur thing. they slowly melt n create this cool color effect!
Final thoughts on my blue tea obsession
literally never had a drink get more attention at parties than butterfly pea tea! everyone wants to know what it is n then they all want the recipe when they see the color change.
my dad who HATES “health food” now asks for his “magic blue drink” whenever he visits lol. thats when i knew i was onto something good!
whether ur looking for something healthy like our blue tonic for weight loss or just want a pretty drink to post on insta, butterfly pea tea is totally worth trying. its one of those things that looks way harder than it actually is!
if ur into healthy drinks check out our lemon balm water for weight loss, detox green juice, or CCF tea recipe. also our articles on lemon balm benefits and apple cider vinegar have tons of good info!
love tea? try our iced matcha lattes or bariatric tea recipes too. n dont miss our natural mounjaro recipe if ur looking for something extra special!