Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail

Create this color changing Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail that transforms from brilliant blue to enchanting purple as you sip. This blue mocktail recipe is sweetened butterfly pea flower tea with lime juice topped with sparkling water for a refreshing and visually captivating drink.

What is Butterfly Pea Flower?

The butterfly pea flower is a vivid blue flowering plant native to Southeast Asia, known for its natural deep blue color. This color comes from pigments called anthocyanins present in the petals.

The butterfly pea mocktail beverage, it showcases the unique color-changing properties of the butterfly pea flower. When the flowers are steeped in water, they release their blue pigments, resulting in a vibrant blue-colored base for the mocktail. However, the color can change when the pH of the liquid is altered. For instance, citrus makes the drink turn purple or pink due to the change in acidity.

Butterfly Pea Benefits

Butterfly pea flowers contain compounds like flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that helps contribute to overall skin health by combating free radicals. In some cultures, the flowers are used to enhance hair health and promote hair growth.

Ingredients to make Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail

Butterfly Pea Flower Powder: This is the star ingredient responsible for the vibrant blue color of the mocktail. When steeped, they release their blue pigments into the liquid, creating a visually striking base for the drink.

Honey or Simple Syrup: The sweetener helps counteract any bitterness from the butterfly pea flowers and provides a pleasant sweetness to the butterfly pea flower mocktail. The amount of sweetener used can be adjusted to suit your taste preferences.

Lime Juice: The lime juice serves multiple purposes in the mocktail. Firstly, it adds a tangy and refreshing flavor that complements the sweetness of the sweetener. Secondly, the acidity in the citrus juice reacts with the blue pigments from the butterfly pea flowers, causing the color of the drink to change from blue to purple or pink. This color-changing effect adds an element of surprise and visual appeal to the beverage.

Sparkling Water: The addition of soda water or sparkling water provides effervescence and a bubbly texture to the mocktail. It adds a refreshing quality to the drink and helps dilute the flavors, making the mocktail lighter and more enjoyable.

Ice Cubes: Ice cubes are essential for keeping the mocktail chilled and maintaining its refreshing quality. They also help to dilute the drink slightly as they melt, further balancing the flavors.

Fresh Mint Leaves: This garnish serves as a decorative element that enhances the visual appeal of the mocktail.

Ingredient Substitutions

Sweetener: Agave nectar, maple syrup, or any other liquid sweetener. Adjust the quantity to achieve your desired level of sweetness.

Citrus Juice: Lemon, lime and orange juice are great substitutes. Other tart fruit juices like cranberry, pomegranate, or even pineapple. Keep in mind that the color-changing effect might be less pronounced with these substitutes.

How to Make Color Changing Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail

Step 1

Start by brewing a strong butterfly pea flower tea. If you are using the powder, use room temperature water. For dried butterfly pea flowers or tea bags, steep in hot water for a few minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the blue color will be. Once the tea has steeped, remove the flowers or tea bags and allow the tea to cool down to room temperature.

Step 2

Sweeten the blue tea to your taste by adding sugar, honey, or simple syrup. Stir until the sweetener is completely dissolved.

Step 3

Fill a glass with ice cubes. Pour the sweetened butterfly pea flower tea into the glass, filling it about halfway.

Step 4

Top off the glass with soda water or sparkling water to add fizziness and dilution. Garnish with a sprig of mint for an extra touch of visual appeal.

Step 5

The best part for last. Squeeze in lime juice to the tea. As the acidity reacts with the blue pigments, you will see the color change from blue to purple or pink. Serve and enjoy your butterfly pea flower mocktail!

How to Make This Blue Mocktail Better

1. Use clear glasses to showcase the beautiful color layers. So, tall glasses or stemless wine glasses should work well.

2. Adjust the sweetness of the mocktail base according to your taste. You can use honey, simple syrup, agave nectar, or any other sweetener you prefer.

3. Feel free to get creative by adding other fruit juices or even a hint of ginger to the mocktail for added flavor complexity.

Butterfly Pea Mocktail FAQs

Other Mocktails and Non Alcoholic Drinks to Try

Mango Mule Mocktail

Watermelon Mocktail Recipe

Blackberry Mocktail with Lime and Honey

Raspberry Fizz Mocktail

Sparkling Grapefruit Mocktail (Virgin Paloma)

If you tried this Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail recipe or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below!