Commonly called blue tea, butterfly pea tea comes from the Clitoria ternatea plant native to Southeast Asia. The flowers from this plant are startlingly blue and the tea is made from its petals and leaves.
Milk tea is another drink also from Asia that has many variations but typically features milk (dairy or vegan), tea, sweetener, ice, and tapioca bubbles as a base. This recipe is highly customizable, and many people choose not to include the tapioca, or boba as it’s popularly called. Butterfly pea milk tea combines these two recipes into a refreshing, naturally blue iced drink that’s easy to make and decadent with or without the tapioca bubbles.
How to Make Butterfly Pea Milk Tea
- 1 tsp. butterfly tea leaves
- 8 oz. boiling water for steeping tea
- 1 tbsp. simple syrup
- ¼ cup dairy or vegan milk
- Optional: tapioca bubbles already cooked according to instructions on the package
- Stove-top
- Pot or kettle for boiling water
- 16 oz. mug
1. Steep the butterfly pea leaves in boiling water.
Boil 8 oz. of water in a small pot. Add butterfly pea leaves. Turn the stove off and let the tea steep for five minutes. Once the tea turns a rich blue color, discard the tea leaves and let cool until room temperature (about 15-20 minutes).
2. Gather milk, ice, & simple syrup.
Scoop a cup of ice into your 16 oz. mug and pour the cooled tea over the ice cubes. Add 1 TBSP simple syrup and ¼ cup milk of your choice. Stir.
3. Add tapioca if desired & enjoy!
If you want boba in your tea, add the pre-cooked tapioca bubbles and gently stir. Enjoy your tea!
The Butterfly Pea Milk Tea Experience
This recipe is easily adaptable to your tastes and preferences. For instance, if you want a creamy, dairy-free tea, we recommend using coconut milk or vegan whipping cream over almond milk. If you want to use cow’s milk, you could opt for skim or whole milk for a lighter option or choose heavy whipping cream for a treat.
You can even change the color of butterfly pea tea by adding a little lemon juice! This will change the pH of the beverage, resulting in a pretty purple color. The best thing about this colorful drink is it’s completely natural, free from commercial food dyes and artificial flavors.
Butterfly pea tea even has some health benefits because it’s loaded with antioxidants. Studies have shown that this tea can lower glucose levels, resulting in lower blood sugar. It’s also good for your circulatory system and stimulates hair growth.
Blue tea has a mild taste that’s not even as strong as green tea. Given that this tea is so healthy for you, it’s a great idea to add this beverage to your diet even if you don’t like the taste since it’s so easy to mask its muted flavor.
While you won’t find butterfly pea tea at a grocery store, it’s available for cheap on Amazon and there is even a rumor that Whole Foods might start carrying it soon.
Butterfly Pea Milk Tea Recipe
Equipment
- Small pot
- Stove-top
- 16 oz. mug
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Butterfly tea leaves
- 8 oz Boiling water for steeping tea
- 1 tbsp Simple syrup
- ¼ cup Dairy or vegan milk
- Tapioca bubbles cooked according to instructions on package optional
Instructions
- Heat 8 oz. of water on the stove-top until barely boiling. Add the butterfly pea tea leaves and steep for 5 minutes. Discard the leaves and let the tea cool for about 15-20 minutes or until it's close to room temperature.
- Add a cup of ice to the 16 oz. mug and pour the cooled tea over the top. Mix in 1 tbsp. simple syrup and ¼ cup milk of your choice.
- If desired, add the pre-cooked tapioca bubbles and stir gently. Enjoy your tea!
Nutrition
Conclusion
Butterfly pea milk tea is a refreshing treat you can make in three easy steps. Caffeine-free and loaded with antioxidants, it is healthy enough to drink any time of day.
Featured Image Credit: Elena Veselova, Shutterstock
