This butterfly pea tea recipe makes a naturally blue herbal tea from anchan flowers that changes to purple when you add lemon or lime. It’s easy to make with many health benefits, and you can use fresh or dried flowers!
Tip: You can also use your butterfly pea flowers to make this refreshing lemonade; it’s perfect for a hot summer’s day.
Butterfly pea tea, also called anchan tea, is a caffeine-free herbal drink made from butterfly pea flowers. It has a mild, earthy taste and is known for its calming and antioxidant benefits. The tea turns purple when you add lemon or lime.
Why does it change color?
After steeping, the blue tea turns purple when lime or lemon is added because the acidity lowers the pH level, causing the anthocyanin pigments in the flowers to react and shift color.
That’s what makes the tea turn purple, and sometimes pink if the acid level is high enough!
A big thank you to Umi Tea Sets for providing me with such a lovely, magical teapot that goes so well with this color-changing tea! If you also want to get a teapot like this, check out their collection of glass teapots!
Ingredient tips and notes
Ingredient notes and step-by-step photos are just below, or scroll straight to the recipe card if you’re ready to get started.
- Fresh butterfly pea flowers – In Thailand, butterfly pea flowers are also used in lemongrass tea, pandan drink, and other drinks and Southeast Asian desserts. They’re mostly used as a natural food coloring, not so much for their flavor. Dried flowers can be found online.
- Water
- Honey – Add a tablespoon or more, depending on how sweet you like it.
- Lime – Just a squeeze will turn the tea purple and add a nice citrusy flavor.
How to make butterfly pea tea
Step 1: Bring water to a gentle boil in a small pot or teapot. Once it’s hot, turn off the heat and add the butterfly pea flowers directly into the water.
Step 2: Let the flowers steep for about 5 minutes. The water will turn blue as the color infuses.
Step 3: Sweeten the tea with honey to taste. Add a squeeze of lime or lemon for a citrus flavor and to turn the tea purple. You can add it to the pot or stir it into each glass when serving. Enjoy!
Ideas for altering the taste
- Turn it into soda – Add sparkling water and a squeeze of lime or lemon for a magical mocktail.
- Make it iced – Serve it over ice with lime and honey.
- Steep with a few slices of fresh ginger.
- Sweeten with palm sugar.
More healthy tea recipes to try
That’s all there is to it! This butterfly pea tea is one of those simple things that feels a little bit special every time I make it. Whether you drink it warm or iced, plain or with lime, it’s a fun way to calm your day. Please leave a comment and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Butterfly Pea Tea (Anchan Tea)
Ingredients
- 15 g butterfly pea flowers, use 2 tbsp (5g) if using dried flowers
- 500 ml water
- lime or lemon juice, a squeeze, to taste
- 1 tbsp honey, add more to taste
Instructions
- Heat the water in a small pot or teapot until it gently boils. Turn off the heat and add the butterfly pea flowers directly into the hot water.
- Let the flowers steep for about 5 minutes. You’ll see the water gradually turn a rich blue as the color releases.
- Add honey to sweeten, and squeeze in some lime or lemon juice if you like. This adds a citrusy note and turns the tea from blue to purple. You can mix it right into the pot or add it when serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
- You can get dried butterfly pea flowers on Amazon.
