Blue tea is taking the internet by storm. What is Butterfly Pea Tea?
What lies behind the name blue tea, or Butterfly Pea Tea? What gives the infusion its magical colour? What does it taste like, and does it offer any health-related qualities? Let us find out.
What is Butterfly Pea Tea?
Butterfly pea, or Clitoria ternatea, is a tropical Asian plant in the legume family. It mostly grows wild, but is also cultivated in places including China, India, Thailand, the Philippines and Madagascar. It is especially well known in Ayurvedic and Chinese folk medicine. A range of health-related properties has been attributed to the plant and investigated scientifically, as we will discuss shortly.
First, note that “blue tea”, much like fruit tea, is a conventional name that has become part of everyday language. Butterfly Pea Tea is not related to any variety of true tea. It is simply an infusion of dried Clitoria ternatea flowers.
The Butterfly Tea phenomenon
The drink's stunning blue colour comes from the dried flowers. The first infusion takes on an intense cobalt blue. Add just a few drops of lemon or lime and it changes to amaranth or pinkish purple.
Interestingly, butterfly pea is widely used as a colourant, including for rice, rice cakes, ice cream and drinks. Roots, leaves and pods can also be used in various foods, dishes, desserts and beverages, but the flowers are used most frequently.
How to brew blue butterfly pea tea
To prepare Butterfly Pea Tea, also called Blue Butterfly Pea Tea, you need a few dried flowers, around five. Place them in an infuser, cover with filtered water at 90°C and leave for around ten to fifteen minutes. The infusion is then ready to drink.
Good to know:
- You can add lemon juice, honey, mint or ginger.
- Brew the flowers only once for the best flavour, valued properties and vivid colour.
- Dried butterfly pea flowers can also be added to other kinds of tea.
Butterfly Pea Tea and its remarkable properties
Some say simply looking at blue tea is enough to lift your mood. There is something in that: an infusion in such a lovely colour is a real feast for the eyes!
Wondering which health-related properties are attributed to Butterfly Pea Tea? The list is long. The infusion is associated with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, fever-reducing and pain-relieving effects, and research into anticancer activity. It is also associated with immune support and brain function. Traditional uses include anxiety and low mood, for calming and antidepressant effects. Benefits for eyesight, skin, hair and nails are also discussed.
Butterfly Pea Tea is further associated with a faster metabolism and support for weight management. Other attributed effects include supporting liver function, regulating high blood pressure, lowering “bad” cholesterol and helping with urinary tract infections.
Blue Butterfly Pea Tea — a summary
Thanks to its original colour and attributed benefits, blue tea is gaining popularity not just among people interested in healthy or mindful living, but especially on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and other social media. Butterfly pea flowers offer a natural way to produce a blue or pinkish-purple drink. That makes the prospect of trying it even more tempting, does it not?