Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Recipe

Dreamy Blue Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Recipe

My morning routine recently discovered an unexpected butterfly pea flower tea latte that completely changed my drink preferences.

Deep azure colors swirl through creamy milk like liquid art.

Stunning natural pigments create a visual masterpiece before the first sip.

Cool refreshment meets botanical elegance in this simple yet sophisticated beverage.

Southeast Asian ingredients combine to deliver an Instagram-worthy experience that feels both trendy and traditional.

Tropical flowers brew into an enchanting drink you won’t want to miss.

Prepare to be mesmerized by this stunning blue concoction that promises pure sensory delight.

Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte That Charms

  • Craft a Color-Changing Drink: Witness the magical transformation from deep blue to vibrant purple with a simple squeeze of lemon, turning this beverage into an interactive and Instagram-worthy experience.
  • Create a Stress-Busting Beverage: Butterfly pea flower tea offers natural antioxidants and potential calming properties, making it a perfect alternative to traditional caffeinated drinks for relaxation.
  • Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe to personal preferences by choosing different sweeteners, milk options, or adding creative garnishes like edible flowers or fresh fruit slices.
  • Impress Without Complexity: Achieve a sophisticated-looking drink with minimal cooking skills, requiring only basic kitchen tools and a few simple ingredients that deliver maximum visual and taste impact.

Ingredients for Vibrant Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte

Tea Base:
  • Butterfly Pea Flowers: A vibrant blue flower that creates a stunning color-changing drink with natural blue pigmentation.
  • Water: The essential liquid for steeping and extracting the flower's beautiful blue color.
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Sweetener, Lemon Juice: These ingredients help balance the tea's flavor and trigger a magical color transformation from blue to purple.
Milk and Finishing Touches:
  • Milk, Non-Dairy Milk Alternatives: A creamy component that softens the tea and adds richness to the beverage.
  • Ice: Provides a refreshing and chilled base for the latte.
  • Lemon Slices, Edible Flowers: Optional garnishes that enhance the visual appeal and add a decorative touch to the drink.

How to Make Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte

Step 1: Brew Vibrant Blue Tea

Bring water to a rolling boil in a kettle. Remove from heat and add dried butterfly pea flowers.

Let the flowers steep and release their stunning blue color for 10 minutes, allowing the water to transform into a mesmerizing azure liquid.

Step 2: Strain and Prepare Tea Base

Place a fine mesh strainer over a clean bowl or pitcher.

Carefully pour the steeped tea through the strainer, catching the flower petals and ensuring a smooth, clear blue liquid. Discard the used flowers.

Step 3: Create Color-Changing Magic

While the tea is still warm, add your preferred sweetener. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the tea, watching the brilliant blue magically shift to a stunning purple-lavender shade.

The acidic lemon triggers a natural color transformation that’s sure to delight.

Step 4: Chill and Prepare Glass

Allow the tea to cool down to room temperature.

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, creating a frosty foundation for your refreshing drink.

Step 5: Layer and Blend

Pour the color-changing tea over the ice.

Gently add your choice of milk or non-dairy alternative:
  • Whole milk
  • Almond milk
  • Oat milk
  • Coconut milk

Stir softly to create beautiful swirling patterns in the glass.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

For a final touch of elegance, add optional garnishes:
  • Lemon wheel slices
  • Edible flowers
  • Fresh mint leaves

Serve immediately and enjoy this stunning, refreshing beverage.

Tips for Perfect Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Every Time

  • Steep butterfly pea flowers precisely for 10 minutes to extract maximum vibrant blue color without bitterness.
  • Add fresh lemon juice gradually to create stunning color-changing effect from deep blue to purple, making the drink visually magical.
  • Choose high-quality dried butterfly pea flowers for richer natural pigmentation and better flavor profile.
  • Use alternative sweeteners like honey or agave for different taste experiences, adjusting to personal preference.
  • Select dairy or non-dairy milk alternatives like almond, oat, or coconut milk to accommodate various dietary needs and enhance flavor complexity.

Fun Twists on Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte to Try

  • Herbal Lavender Latte: Replace butterfly pea flowers with dried lavender buds for a soothing, aromatic variation with soft purple hues.
  • Matcha Blue Blend: Swap butterfly pea flowers with matcha powder for a green tea version with rich antioxidant properties and earthy flavor.
  • Tropical Coconut Splash: Use coconut milk instead of regular milk and add a splash of pineapple juice for a refreshing island-inspired drink.
  • Vegan Honey Alternative: Substitute traditional sweetener with agave nectar or maple syrup for a plant-based friendly option that maintains sweetness.

Pairings That Match Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Well

  • Pair the vibrant blue latte with delicate lavender shortbread cookies that complement the floral butterfly pea flower notes.
  • Serve alongside a refreshing mix of mango, passion fruit, and lychee to enhance the tea's light and playful color-changing experience.
  • Create a beautiful appetizer plate with soft goat cheese drizzled with honey and sprinkled with edible flowers to mirror the tea's elegant presentation.
  • Select crispy coconut macaroons that echo the creamy milk base and provide a sweet contrast to the tea's herbal undertones.

How to Keep Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Fresh

  • Refrigerate: Store in an airtight glass container for up to 3 days, keeping the tea separate from milk to prevent separation.
  • Freeze: Pour cooled tea into ice cube trays, creating flavor-packed cubes for future refreshing drinks or quick chilling.
  • Reheat: Gently warm tea in microwave at 50% power for 30-45 seconds, stirring midway to maintain smooth consistency.
  • Refresh: If tea separates or loses vibrancy, quickly whisk or shake before serving to restore color and texture.

FAQs

  • What are butterfly pea flowers, and where do they come from?

Butterfly pea flowers are vibrant blue blossoms native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Malaysia. They’re known for their natural color-changing properties and are traditionally used in herbal teas and culinary applications.

  • Why does the tea change color when lemon is added?

The butterfly pea flower contains natural anthocyanin pigments that react to pH changes. When acidic lemon juice is added, the blue color transforms into a beautiful purple or pink shade, creating a magical visual effect.

  • Is butterfly pea flower tea healthy?

Yes, it’s rich in antioxidants and may offer potential health benefits like reducing inflammation, supporting brain health, and providing potential anti-aging properties. The tea is caffeine-free and contains various beneficial compounds.

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Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Recipe

Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte Recipe


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4.8 from 24 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Description

Butterfly pea flower latte enchants taste buds with its mesmerizing blue hue and delicate floral notes. Smooth coconut milk and elegant tea create a refreshing beverage you’ll savor with pure delight.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup milk (or non-dairy alternative)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsps butterfly pea flowers
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp honey or sugar
  • 45 ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Heat water to boiling point, then immediately remove from heat source to infuse butterfly pea flowers for precisely 10 minutes.
  2. Carefully strain the intensely blue floral liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container, ensuring no flower particles remain.
  3. While tea is still warm, incorporate sweetener and fresh lemon juice, which will dramatically transform the liquid’s color from deep blue to vibrant purple.
  4. Allow the infused tea to cool naturally to room temperature, preventing rapid temperature changes that might affect flavor integrity.
  5. Fill a tall glass completely with fresh ice cubes, creating a chilled foundation for the beverage.
  6. Gently cascade the colored tea over the ice, maintaining the beautiful color gradient.
  7. Slowly pour milk or preferred non-dairy alternative directly over the iced tea, creating a mesmerizing visual layer effect.
  8. Use a long spoon to softly blend the layers, creating a marbled appearance without completely mixing the colors.
  9. Optionally embellish with delicate lemon wedges or edible flower petals to enhance visual appeal and provide a subtle aromatic garnish.
  10. Serve immediately to preserve the drink’s temperature and visual allure.

Notes

  • Experiment with different sweeteners like honey, agave, or stevia for unique flavor profiles and dietary needs.
  • Add a splash of vanilla extract or cinnamon to enhance the floral notes and create a more complex taste experience.
  • For a vegan version, use plant-based milk alternatives like almond, oat, or coconut milk to maintain the creamy texture.
  • Chill the tea completely before serving to prevent dilution and maintain the vibrant blue-purple color when adding lemon juice.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Tea
  • Method: Steeping
  • Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Calories: 70 kcal
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 40 mg
  • Fat: 2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0.8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg
Clara Bennett

Clara Bennett

Contributing Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

Baking and Pastry Development, Gluten-Free and Allergy-Friendly Recipe Creation, Culinary Storytelling and Food Journalism, Recipe Testing and Standardization, Southern Comfort Foods and Modern Twists

Education

Sullivan University – National Center for Hospitality Studies
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

Focus: Baking and Pastry Arts, Recipe Testing, and Culinary Journalism.

Clara specialized in crafting desserts that blend classic Southern comfort with modern techniques, while developing strong writing skills to tell the story behind every dish.

Lane Community College (Certificate Program)
Certificate in Food Writing and Photography

Focus: Culinary storytelling, recipe formatting, food styling, and visual presentation.


Clara’s love of baking started young, powered by homemade pies, biscuits, and stories passed around the family table.
After earning her degree at Sullivan University and a food writing certificate at Lane Community College, she turned her passion into a craft: sharing recipes that are simple, soulful, and always full of heart.
She’s big on bold flavors, flexible ideas, and creating sweets that fit any table (yes, even if you’re gluten-free). When she’s not baking, you’ll find her wandering farmers’ markets, styling food for the next photo shoot, or working on her ever-growing recipe journal.

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