Blue Butterfly Pea Tea

Description

What is Butterfly Pea Tea
Butterfly pea tea, also known as Clitoria ternatea, is an herbal tea made from the dried flowers of the butterfly pea plant, which is native to Southeast Asia. It has a unique deep blue color due to the anthocyanin pigments found in the flowers. Butterfly pea flowers have been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries for their potential health benefits.

What does butterfly pea tea taste like?
Once brewed, butterfly pea tea has a mild, slightly earthy flavor with a slightly bitter taste similar to green tea. This tea has a smooth, refreshing taste without being bland, making it the perfect base for different beverages. It is versatile and can be mixed with other herbal teas to create unique blends. Some people like to add honey or sugar to butterfly pea tea to sweeten it. Others like to add citrus fruits, such as lime, to their tea, which turns the blue color of the tea purple. This tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, making it the perfect iced tea.

How to brew butterfly pea tea
To make butterfly pea tea, place 3 grams of dried flowers in a teapot, add 500 ml of water and steep for 5 minutes at 100oC. The brewed tea can be drunk directly or used as a base for other drinks and cocktails. It is often served with a squeeze of lemon juice, which turns the blue tea into a pleasing purple color.

Cocktail Recipes
First, steep the butterfly pea flowers, mint leaves, and sugar in hot water for 5 minutes. Once steeped, strain through a fine mesh strainer and pour into a pitcher filled with ice and allow to cool. For best results, refrigerate the tea for 2 hours. When ready to serve, simply pour the blue tea into a tall glass filled with ice, leaving about an inch of head space. To give this drink a tropical feel, we recommend adding a splash of rum to the glass and stirring. For a fun twist on the classic mojito, drizzle fresh lime juice over the rum without stirring. This technique will create a beautiful color-mixing effect in the glass. Once you??ve done this, gently stir the cocktail with a spoon or straw before serving.

Bubble Tea Recipe
Prepare the butterfly pea tea as above and place in the fridge to cool. Meanwhile, boil a pot of water and add the tapioca pearls. Cover the pot and cook the pearls according to the instructions on the package – different brands may take as little as three minutes or as long as 20 minutes. Once cooked, remove the pot from the stove and leave the pearls in the pot for another five minutes.

Then, drain the water in which the tapioca pearls were cooked and place them in a bowl of cold water. Let them cool for 20 seconds, then strain the water again. Drain again and mix the tapioca balls with maple syrup, golden syrup, or a syrup made by boiling 40 grams of brown sugar in 120 ml of water until it has the consistency of syrup.

To make the blue bubble tea, place the pearls evenly in a tall glass and add the coconut milk. Finally, pour the iced butterfly pea tea over the pearls and milk, stir well, and add ice cubes to serve. Drink the butterfly pea tea with a straw and scoop up the pearls with a spoon. Enjoy this delicious and refreshing drink!

Effects and side effects of butterfly pea tea
Butterfly pea tea has a variety of health benefits that have been recognized in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. It is rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanins, which help protect the body from free radical damage and reduce inflammation. This tea also contains flavonoids, which have been shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Additionally, butterfly pea tea has a positive effect on brain function. It contains compounds that are thought to improve cognitive function, memory, and concentration. Some studies have also shown that it can improve mood and reduce anxiety and stress levels.

One of the most common side effects of butterfly pea tea is reportedly digestive issues. Some people may experience bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort after drinking this tea. This may be because the tea contains tannins, which can irritate the digestive system in some people.

Additionally, butterfly pea tea has been shown to have hypotensive properties, meaning it can lower blood pressure levels. While this is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, it can also be harmful for people with normal or low blood pressure. It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional before consuming butterfly pea tea if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.