How to Make the Perfect Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade
Thai-American · Easy · 20 min · 2 servings
This magical color-changing butterfly pea flower lemonade transforms from deep indigo blue to vibrant purple when lemon juice is added, creating a stunning visual effect. This easy homemade butterfly pea flower drink is a showstopping Instagram-worthy recipe packed with antioxidants.
Why this recipe works
This Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 20 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 60 calories with 0g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 5 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 2 tbsp dried butterfly pea flowers
- 480 ml hot water
- 60 ml fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp simple syrup
- 2 cups ice cubes
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Brew the Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Place the dried butterfly pea flowers in a heatproof pitcher and pour hot water over them. Steep for 5 minutes until the water turns a deep vivid indigo blue, then strain out the flowers and allow the tea to cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare the Sweetened Lemon Juice
Combine fresh lemon juice and simple syrup in a small bowl and stir well until fully blended. Keep this mixture separate from the blue tea to preserve the dramatic color-change moment.
Step 3: Create the Color Change Effect
Fill two glasses generously with ice cubes and pour the deep blue butterfly pea flower tea over the ice. Slowly pour the sweetened lemon juice into each glass and watch the magical transformation from blue to purple as the citric acid reacts with the anthocyanins in the tea.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- dried butterfly pea flowers → butterfly pea flower tea bags
- simple syrup → agave syrup
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Mixing the lemon juice into the pitcher before serving which eliminates the dramatic color-change effect
- Steeping the flowers for too long which can produce a slightly earthy or grassy off-flavor in the tea
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 60 calories, 0g protein, 15g carbs, 0g fat, 0g fiber.
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