Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade | Butterfly Pea Flower Herbal Tea – with step by step photos, description and video of the recipe is here. Amazing magical colour changing drink that can be served at a party, also you can make a cocktail version from this Butterfly Pea Flower Infusion. Or add lemon extract and prepare Butterfly Pea flower Lemonade.
What is Blue Tea?
Firstly, when you think of tea, mostly you get an image of either the usual tea or the black tea would pop up in your mind. Have you ever thought of blue tea that changes colour, and has zero caffeine in it. Then here is how you can make herbal tea or also called as lemonade.
This blue tea is derived from Butterfly pea flower also known by the names Butterfly Pea Flower, Blue Pea, or pigeon wings might be because the petal of the flower looks like wings of a butterfly or pigeon.
Naturally vibrant colour comes from the beautifully coloured Butterfly pea flower. I was amazed to see how colour changes when the butterfly pea flower infusion is mixed with lemon extract. Refreshing magical colour changing lemonade is perfect for a summer season or can be served at the party.
There is nothing artificial about the colour of this lemonade. This natural blue colour comes from the little blue flower native to Southeast Asia called Butterfly Pea Flower. This flower actually gives soluble blue colour. The trend to use the blue flower or blue pea is popular nowadays. The dishes made using the natural colour of this flower are good for health too.
Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade | Butterfly Pea Flower Infusion
Moreover, You can add this blue flower infusion to any drink. Light blue colour looks pleasant. We can add this flower juice to burger bun, bread, roti dough’s to make a little variation from the normal bread or roti’s. Furthermore you can add blue flower syrup to white rice, blue pulao and many such dishes. While making the ice cubes, add a little blue syrup to get blue ice cubes. These are some ideas where you can make use of Butterfly Pea flower juice or syrup. If you don’t get fresh flowers you can use the dried ones which is available in the market.
Here is my experience preparing this blue pea flower infusion or blue tea. It took me to remember doing the experiments in the chemistry lab. Being a chemical engineer I had enjoyed this preparation and amazed to see how the colour changes when we add the lemon extract with an acidic pH. Just adding a few drops of lemon changes its colour from blue to magnificent purple colour. I have also added some fresh Tulsi leaves and some chopped ginger.
Is Blue Tea or Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade a New concept?
Blue pea flower tea is trending in the recent years, but it is not a recent discovery. This flower is very commonly used in the countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and neighbouring countries,This has been used for ages in cooking, dyeing, and making cosmetics. Recent studies have shown Blue tea will offer certain health benefits includes boosting immunity, improved cognitive ability, and weight loss.
According to Ayurveda, as published in the journal of Ethnopharmacology, “ it has been used for centuries as a memory enhancer, nootropic, antistress, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, tranquillising and sedative agent”.
Blue tea is usually enjoyed post dinner, many spa’s give it as a refreshment drink.
Before going to the recipe I would like to highlight some of the other recipes here:
Beetroot Raita | Beetroot Pachadi,
Immunity Boosting Guava Cucumber Salad,
Banana Stem Salad | Bale Dindina Kosambari,
VIDEO OF BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER LEMONADE RECIPE | BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER INFUSION :
SUGGESTED WATCH: Healthy Hibiscus Tea | How to make Hibiscus Tea
RECIPE CARD FOR BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER LEMONADE RECIPE | BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER INFUSION:
Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade | Blue Pea Flower Infusion
Ingredients
- 15 Butterfly Pea Flower
- 5-6 Tulsi Leaves (Basil Leaves)
- 1 tsp Ginger chopped
- 3 cup Hot water
- 1/4 cup Sugar (Any Sweetener)
- 2 tsp Lemon Extract
Instructions
- Take 15 butterfly pea flowers.
- Remove the green part and wash them well in water.
- After washing add take them into a jug or container. (Preferably glass or steel, as we are going to add hot water).
- Then add 5-6 Tulsi leaves (Basil Leaves).
- Also add 1 tsp of freshly chopped ginger.
- Add 3 cup of hot water.
- Cover it with a lid and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- After around 5 minutes the colour of the water will be turned to Blue.
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar. (Or you can use any other sweetener). You can adjust the sweetness based on your taste.
- Dissolve the sugar and filter it to the serving glass. This is the butterfly pea flower infusion. That can be used for making any other type of drink like lemonade, cocktail etc.
- For preparing the lemonade I have added 1 tsp of lemon extract to each glass. While adding lemon extract do observe how the colour changes.
- It is ready to serve. You can have it as it is or have it chilled.
Video
Notes
HOW TO MAKE BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER LEMONADE WITH STEP BY STEP PHOTOS:
- Take 15 butterfly pea flowers.
- Remove the green part.
- Wash them well in water.
- After washing add take them into a jug or container. (Preferably glass or steel, as we are going to add hot water).
- Then add 5-6 Tulsi leaves (Basil Leaves).
- Also add 1 tsp of freshly chopped ginger.
- Add 3 cup of hot water.
- Cover it with a lid and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- After around 5 minutes the colour of the water will be turned to Blue.
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar. (Or you can use any other sweetener). You can adjust the sweetness based on your taste.
- Dissolve the sugar.
- And filter it to the serving glass. This is the butterfly pea flower infusion.
- This can be used for making any other type of drink like lemonade, cocktail etc.
- For preparing the lemonade I have added 1 tsp of lemon extract to each glass. While adding lemon extract do observe how the colour changes.
- It is ready to serve. You can have it as it is or have it chilled.
TIPS & VARIATIONS :
- Firstly, if you don’t get fresh flowers, you can add dried ones available in the markets.
- I have added sugar as a sweetener, but you can use any sweetener of your choice.
- Once you prepare the blue pea infusion, you can use that to prepare any other drinks like lemonade, cocktails etc.
- Adding Ginger and Tulsi leaves gives a fresh flavour.
- You can have this hot, chilled or at normal temperature.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLUE PEA FLOWER OR BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER:
Recent studies have shown Blue tea will offer certain health benefits includes boosting immunity, improved cognitive ability, and weight loss.
According to Ayurveda, as published in the journal of Ethnopharmacology, “ it has been used for centuries as a memory enhancer, nootropic, antistress, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, tranquillising and sedative agent”.
Word of caution : Pregnant women and lactating mothers, please do consult your doctor before having this tea.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Research has been ongoing on this topic, but clinically proven that blue tea has more antioxidants than green tea.
Drinking butterfly pea flowers seeped in warm or hot water, said to be have an effective way to rev up metabolism, in turn helps in shedding more calories.
Blue tea is normally served warm. However you can have it cold by adding some ice cubes.
Blue tea is a floral tea and has no caffeine.
We can add this flower juice to burger bun, bread, roti dough’s to make a little variation from the normal bread or roti’s. Furthermore you can add blue flower syrup to white rice, blue pulao and many such dishes. While making the ice cubes, add a little blue syrup to get blue ice cubes.
Disclaimer: All content given here is for information purpose only and should not be considered to be specific for any individual. Always seek the direct advice from your doctor.
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