What Are The Benefits Of Butterfly Pea Tea
Blue Tea has many health benefits the most well known of which are the anti-oxidants as well as balance to calm the digestive system.
Many people find blue tea increases your energy levels a little and add to alertness and for me, I find it best drunk cold with ice but perhaps that is because Thailand, at least where I live in Central Thailand, is very hot!
The flowers contain catechins which are believed to speed up the metabolism and help burn fat because of the increased calorie burn rate.
Apart from the beautifully exciting blue color of the drink, many people find it helps improve your mood too.
Like green and regular tea, the drink is a mild diuretic which helps your urinary system get rid of excess water and may help reduce anxiety and regulate blood sugar levels but there is not much scientific evidence to back it up yet.
Color Changing Butterfly Pea Tea:
Follow the same recipe as before. Now for the magic part, add few drops of lemon and see the color change to beautiful purplish pink. If you add more of lemon juice it will turn fully pink.
NOTES:
- You can use either use fresh or dried flowers.
- This tea is full of antioxidants and has been proven through clinical research.
- Add lemon juice according to your taste, the color change will depend on the amount of lemon juice.
- If you have irritable bowel syndrome, drink it plain like given in the first recipe.
How To Make Blue Tea
For each cup of water, use about 5-7 dried flowers. Preferably, use fresh spring water to make the blue tea. Boil the water and let it cool down to about 205°F. You have to preheat your teapot, and you can do this by pouring hot water in and out.;
Add the blue flowers and steep for about five minutes. Make sure to not over steep. Even though the tea is not likely to develop bitterness like green tea, the pleasant flavor can change or reduce.
You can now strain and add sweeteners. If you want the blue tea served cold, let the tea cool down and add ice cubes. You can include other ingredients such as drops of lemon to bring out its intense purple color.;
Lime brings out the greatness of the blue tea, and it comes with a delicate citrus flavor. You can begin with small drops of lime and more until you get to your preferred color. Also, you can almost use any teapot to make blue tea. If you do not have a teapot or a strainer, you can steep the flowers and take out the flowers with a spoon.;
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Looks Great Tastes Not So Great
I dont love the taste of this drink but EVERYONE loves the way it looks, so here we are.;
Imagine going for a walk in the woods and you pick up some twigs and dry leaves. Then lets pretend you boil that in hot water. Thats what butterfly pea flower tastes like.;
Adding lemonade or lemons to butterfly pea flower tea make it taste better and its how I drink it. The brightness from the lemons work well to mask the muskiness from the tea.;
What Does Blue Tea Taste Like
Unlike the scent, flavor is very delicate. Its slightly woody, and slightly sweet, with a light floral note. Its very refreshing and not intense as you would expect from just smelling it. This tea may appeal to a wider tea drinking population. Blue tea is one of those teas that could be used in many ways to add color to your drinks, without drastically influencing the flavor.
When compared to other floral teas, such as rose, jasmine, or lavender, butterfly flower tea has the most delicate flavor which many tea drinkers will probably find pleasant.
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Blue Tea Promotes Anti
Having clear, blemish-free, youthful-looking skin is everyones dream. Blue tea is packed with antioxidants that are great for your hair and skin and prevent premature aging by fighting free radicals.
Blue tea contains the compound Anthocyanin which increases blood flow in the scalp and strengthens the hair follicles. The people of Thailand have been using the blue tea plant, Butterfly Pea herb, for centuries for treating
Is Butterfly Pea Tea The Same As Blue Lotus
As someone who has written extensively about both Blue tea, and in this article on blue lotus tea, I can answer this question very thoroughly.
Butterfly pea tea is different from blue lotus tea. Butterfly Pea tea is from the Clitoria ternate plant, also called butterfly pea or Asian pigeonwings. It has numerous health benefits. Blue lotus tea is derived from the blue lily flower and is used for anxiety, sleep, and as an aphrodisiac.
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Blue Butterfly Pea Tea Side Effects:
This tea has fewer side effects, in fact I couldnt find any;side effects at all and it also has been clinically proven to have very;very low toxicity even when taken in large quantities.;Though it is safe for consumption, I couldnt find any study proving that it is safe for pregnant and breast feeding women so for them I would suggest to practice caution. If you do consume, do it only in moderation.
Why Is Butterfly Pea Flower Tea So Different
It is a Herbal Tea and has a gorgeous blue color. It is also categorized as a magical drink because its color gets changed with a few drops of lemon juice. This tea is made from dried flowers of the Clitoria Ternatea plant. This is widely used in most parts of Asia particularly Thailand & Vietnam. You can use fresh as well as dried flowers to make this beautiful drink.
Color plays an important role in making this drink so popular. This is often served as a welcome drink in many spas & hotels. Also, the pea flower is used in the meals in rice as well as in some desserts too.
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Blue Lotus Tea Benefits
There are more claims and anecdotal evidence supporting blue lotus tea than hard research. It has been historically used for recreational and medicinal purposes. As well as a natural aphrodisiac, the benefits are believed to include reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and aiding erectile dysfunction.
Given that that blue lotus tea is made from the blue lotus plant, it brings with it strong benefits that the blue lotus plant provides.
It has been linked with various medicinal purposes across various practices of medicine including folk medicines, Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicine, and oriental medicine.
Ill touch on that shortly, but first, well go on to more modern-day benefits of this tea.
Lets go over a few of the main modern medicine benefits first
What Is Butterfly Pea Tea
Butterfly Pea Tea is a drink made by infusing the flowers of the Butterfly Pea plant in hot water, much as regular tea is infused to make tea. It can be drunk either hot or cold and is regularly served in Thai hotels and upmarket massage outlets.;
If using fresh flowers you should remove the green stem and leaves since if left on they will turn the tea a little bitter in taste.
If using dried flowers then you can omit this step.
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Video Of Making Butterfly Pea Tea
Southeast Asia is renowned for the use of natural medicines, some of the dubious effect and others now used worldwide. Ginseng and ginger, for instance, have been used for centuries across Asia to improve health and wellbeing that are now commonly used worldwide.
Another healthy drink you might like is our refreshing tropical fruit punch or maybe another zero calorie refreshing drink recipe Cold Brewed Jasmine Green Tea or the leaf based Pandan Drink common in Thailand.
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Other Health Benefits Of Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Butterfly pea flower tea is also seen as a magical drink because of its numerous health benefits. Here is a list of all the health benefits of butterfly pea flower tea:
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How Many Cups Of Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Can You Drink A Day
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea does not contain caffeine and so avoids the issue that regular tea and, even worse, coffee have and so is a better alternative.
However, like anything, it should be drunk in moderation. I drink 3-5 glassesa day as part of my water intake because drinking plain water all day is quite boring.
In Thailand, you will find the drink served in receptions at hotels, in spas and massage rooms, served after meals and added to various dishes. So you will see it is commonly used.
I stress that I am neither a doctor nor have any medical background but can tell you that the general consensus is that 3-5 glasses a day or less is fine.
Anyway, variety is the spice of life right?
So What Is Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Butterfly pea flowers are wild, flowering vines from Southeast Asia. They contain the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is produced by plants as a protective system against harsh sun and other stressors. Studies have found an association between anthocyanins to and cardiovascular protection.
In this recipe, butterfly pea flower tea is layered with passion fruit and lime and mint in a fruity limeade.
While the tea starts blue after brewing, as you pour it over the passionfruit base, it layers to purple then yellow. This is caused by a pH change. You could accomplish this with any acid!
While passion fruit cocktail juice is used in this recipe, if you can get your hands on straight up juice, go for it! Just add a little simple syrup to account for the change in sweetness.
The other key is in the pouring technique. Pour the tea super slowly over top to avoid an immediate mixing and color change.
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Blue Tea Is Good For Heart Health
Blue tea is packed with antioxidants that not only protect you from infections but are also beneficial for keeping your heart in a good shape.
Studies have found Blue tea to be effective in lowering high cholesterol levels-a major risk factor for heart disease. Blue tea has been shown to protect against heart diseases by curbing Hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia refers to an abnormally high concentration of lipids or fats in the blood.
It is also responsible for a number of heart diseases including blockage, blood clotting, and heart attack. According to a 2010 Pharmaceutical Biology study, butterfly pea extract, when taken with the herb Vigna mungo, lowered serum total cholesterol by a considerable amount.
It also showed a significant reduction in triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits
Health benefits for butterfly pea flower tea are relatively scant, and you likely wont drink enough to make a difference.
And if youre concerned about the electric-blue color, dont be alarmed.
According to Brittany Crump, M.P.H., R.D.N. at;Savor Nutrition, Butterfly pea tea is safe to consume, and most people do so without any significant side effects.
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Where To Buy Butterfly Tea Flower
You can purchase dried Butterfly Pea flowers online from;,;Etsy;or find them at a spice or herbal store.
Theyre also sold as butterfly pea tea . However, make sure to buy whole dried flowers instead of the powdered tea.
Theyre really popular for their mood ring color changing ways so youd be surprised how easily they can be found!
The Science Behind This Mesmerizing Color
Brewing a cup of butterfly pea flower tea, made from a Southeast Asian flower, is like seeing a glow stick turn from a boring translucent-gray tube into a glimmering neon cylinder for the first time. Just add water and it’s a deep midnight-cobalt blue. Squeeze in lemon, and it transforms into a rich violet.
We first knew about the tea when we tried the psychedelic Mood Ring Cocktail at Mission Chinese Food in New York. But it wasn’t until pastry chef and inventor of the Cronut, Dominique Ansel, described tasting it in his Grub Street diet that we were interested in the potentially mainstream appeal of the flower and its Lisa Frank-ian color palette.
We knew our local supermarkets didn’t have it, so we went where we always do: the Internet. And we ordered some to take the technicolor liquid for a spin. The package we ordered from BlueChai combines dried butterfly pea flowers with dried lemongrass, and the package recommends steeping five teaspoons into a mug with 250mL of boiling water for between four and 15 minutes. After around five, this writer’s tea mug looked more like an opaque navy-indigo pool worth dunking knotted-off shirts into for impromptu tie dye than something that should be ingested.
BlueChai’s Butterfly Pea Flower Tea + Lemongrass
Squeeze in a few drops of lemon and watch the magic happen.
But you can see for yourself in the video below:
Instagram content
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How To Make A Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Cocktail
Before you start, make sure youve made butterfly flower syrup beforehand.
Gently muddle mint leaves in a julep cup or fluted glass.
Next, add crushed ice to fill 3/4 of the glass.
Then, add bourbon and the Butterfly Pea Flower syrup and stir to chill. Add more crushed ice to fill the glass.
Pour lemon juice over the cocktail and watch the blue pea change colors! The presentation alone makes this such a fun drink.
Make sure to stir it well. Youll want to evenly mix the tart and sweet flavors. Youll know when its ready when your drink is a deep magenta.
Smack mint sprigs to release oils and then, garnish the glass.
You dont want to just throw in the mint. To smack the sprigs, place the sprig in one hand and gently smack it with the other. This is when the fresh flavors are released!
Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup
- Steep Butterfly Pea flowers in boiling water for 15 minutes.
- Strain out the flowers.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of the Butterfly Pea Flower tea to a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium. You can reserve the leftover tea to drink or freeze into ice cubes and crush for this drink.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool.
Dont forget to share your Butterfly Pea Flower cocktail with us on using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? You can find them all right here with a few bites to go along with them!
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Can I Make This Drink Ahead Of Time And How Long Will It Keep
Yes, you can make the tea and lemonade mixture ahead of time and just add the soda water when ready to serve. Because this drink contains lemon juice, if you dont finish it in one sitting, store it in a bottle with a lid in the fridge and finish it within the next few days. If using soda water, remember to only add it when ready to drink. This is really important because you dont want it to go flat while sitting in the fridge!
Butterfly Pea Tea Latte
This Butterfly Latte will become one of the most amazing drinks you will ever make! This recipe is so easy to make and becomes such a bright blue in color. The steeping from these butterfly pea flowers is what gives you that beautiful color. This has the same process of brewing regular tea. You can enjoy this lovely drink with some simple recipes like these delicious Pumpkin Muffins;with Streusel Topping or Blueberry Biscuit Bombs.
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Questions You May Have
What does it taste like?
I dont love the taste of butterfly pea flower tea. It tastes earthy and woody. Its definitely pretty to look at but it tastes bleh. I never drink it on its own.
Is there caffeine?
Nope, theres no caffeine in butterfly pea flower tea.
Whats the difference between loose tea, tea sachets, and tea bags?
Loose butterfly pea flowers are the best quality. Tea sachets are good to OK quality and tea bags are the lowest in quality.
Is butterfly pea flower tea a real tea?
Butterfly pea flower tea is made from the clitoria ternatea plant, not the camellia sinensis so its not a real tea. All herbal teas arent real teas. Real tea is tea made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. Black, oolong, green, and white tea are all real or true tea.