Also known as butterfly flower or blue tea, it is striking because it changes color from blue to lilac. It also has many health-promoting benefits and properties. It comes from the Clitoria ternatea plant, native to Southeast Asia. In this post, we'll give you 5 easy ways to make pea flower tea taste better. You'll learn how to make pea flower tea taste good.
The benefits of butterfly pea tea are many. It's a wonderful drink for weight loss, is refreshing, and contains no caffeine. Like green tea, butterfly pea tea is a rich source of antioxidants. It has an earthy flavor and its anti-stress effects help reduce anxiety. It can be enjoyed hot or cold.
1. Lemon and honey
In Vietnam and Thailand, people customarily drink pea tea with honey and lemon. The drink is known as nam dok anchan. The interesting thing about this drink is that adding lemon alters the tea's pH, changing its color from blue to purple. Depending on how much lemon is added, the purple will be softer; if you add a lot, it will be more intense.
When prepared cold, it's often accompanied by mint, ginger, and passion fruit. It's also been combined with hibiscus flowers. When combined, you'll notice the preparation takes on a bright red color. When infused with hot water, this tea acquires a bluish hue and has an earthy, woody, and mossy flavor, very similar to other similar teas such as oolong or green tea.
2. Pea Flower Tea Cocktail
Another way to make pea flower tea taste good is to prepare it as a cocktail. This preparation is very common in Southeast Asia. The refreshing drink is made with dried pea flowers that have been steeped in hot water, turning the liquid a deep lilac color. It's prepared with fresh lemon juice, honey ( or sugar or brown sugar ), and the addition of mint or cucumber. This cocktail typically doesn't contain alcohol; however, some people add a little white rum.
3. Ombre Lemonade
If you want a light pink, blue, or purple glass, you'll need to slowly pour the ice-cold pea flower tea lemonade over the ice cubes. If you pour it all at once or too quickly, the lemonade will immediately change color to a deep purple. Meanwhile, adding sugar gives the drink a layered look.
Since this drink is flavored with butterfly tea, the layered appearance will be easy to achieve. When you pour a low-sugar drink with a high-sugar drink, you'll see those layers. That's why it's called ombre lemonade, because of the layered effect it creates. This drink can be stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed anytime.
4. Pea flower tea with mint and rosemary
This is a recipe for making pea flower tea that tastes great. It makes two large glasses of lemonade. If you have any leftover, store it in the refrigerator for later use. Rosemary has many benefits, which is why it's a good choice for mixing with pea flower tea. You can also prepare it and refrigerate it for later use. What you'll need is:
- A cup of boiled water.
- One tablespoon of dried pea flower tea.
- Fresh mint and rosemary .
- A cup of sugar.
Now, for the lemonade the following ingredients will be:
- ¼ cup lemon juice.
- A cup of cold water.
- Lemon slices
- Some herbs for garnish (optional).
You should prepare it like this:
- Soak the dried butterfly pea flowers, rosemary, and fresh mint in a bowl of hot water. Keep covered for about 5 minutes.
- Strain the mixture, add sugar, and dissolve well. It may seem like a lot of sugar, but it's enough to maintain a thick consistency and give the syrup a layered appearance. Let the syrup cool completely.
- Next, squeeze the lemons into very cold water (the amount of water will depend on how much the person drinks).
- Add enough ice to the glass and add the pea flower syrup.
- Place a lemon wedge in the glass. Then slowly pour the lemonade over the top until the glass is full.
- Optionally, garnish with a sprig of rosemary or mint. Now enjoy this refreshing drink!
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5. Other preparations
Some people like to add a couple of chamomile flowers to butterfly pea tea. When blended, the infusion water takes on a watery green color. Turmeric can also be added and sweetened with rice sugar. The butterfly pea plant has long been used in cooking, for dyeing and in making beauty products. In Malaysian cuisine, it is used in a very popular dish called Nasi Karabu, where rice is dyed blue and accompanied by fish, fried chicken, crackers, salads, or pickles.
Another well-known dish is Nasi Ulam, which is made with blue rice dyed with pea flower tea. This dish is mixed with vegetables and herbs (pepagan or lemon basil). It's also a Malaysian dish and is served as a side dish.
Another use in dishes where pea flower tea adds its flavor is in desserts, such as traditional Malaysian desserts (kulh or kueh). The former is a sweet made from rice.
At Tétique, we are dedicated to providing teas for businesses in the hospitality, bakery, coffee, and restaurant sectors. We offer a wide selection of carefully selected teas and herbal infusions from around the world. Whether you're looking for classic teas or unique and exotic flavors, we're sure to have something to meet your business needs. We're proud to offer bulk purchasing options to help you reduce costs and ensure consistent quality. Contact us today to learn more about how we can meet your tea needs and enhance your business's beverage offering.
