Color Changing Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail

Butterfly pea flower tea, also known as Asian pigeonwings, blue tea, or blue pea tea, originates in southeast Asia. This herbal tea has been widely used as a natural food dye due to its stunning bright blue color. While the taste isn't like the blue raspberry flavor it looks like, it's subtle and sweet, like green tea.

Blue butterfly pea flower tea has become popular in recent years due to its color-changing properties when paired with acidic ingredients. A squeeze of lemon or a squeeze of lime will alter the drink's pH level, turning the intense blue color into a bright purple tea. This magic lemonade is one of the prettiest teas with a lovely floral note, definitely one good for posting on social media!

I love this blue mocktail recipe as a party mocktail, one that gets people involved. Use this as your signature mocktail for Baby Showers, Bridal Showers, or Easter Gatherings!

Steep the Tea

Use an electric kettle or the stovetop to make hot water.  In a teapot or large container, steep the blue pea flowers for 10 minutes until they reach a deep blue color, and then remove from heat. Allow the hot tea to cool completely. 

Combine in Shaker

In your cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup. Add ice, freshly squeezed lime juice, and the Lyres White Cane Spirit to the shaker.

Fill two highball, tall glasses with ice.  Shake for 15 seconds or until well chilled and strain into your glass, filling halfway.

Top your glass slowly with the cooled tea. Use a mesh strainer to prevent any flower bits from ending up in your drink.  Stir to turn butterfly tea from blue to purple! Or don't, up to you. 

Enhance your beverage with these creative twists.

Add a splash of pineapple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice or mango juice for a fruity sweetener, or infuse it with fresh basil, thyme, or lavender for herbal depth. Tropical flavors like passion fruit or guava juice pair beautifully with butterfly pea flower tea’s earthy notes. Swap traditional simple syrup for flavored options like orange, rose, blackberry, watermelon, or chai syrup to add aromatic sweetness. You can also add sparkling water for a sparkling butterfly pea flower. 

Try blending teas, such as hibiscus tea and butterfly pea flower, for vibrant colors and tart undertones. For a nuanced mix, replace Lyre's White Rum with non-alcoholic mixers like Seedlip, ginger beer, or elderflower syrup.

For an iconic without specialty ingredients, try this Aperol Spritz, Mango Mule, or Pina Colada- you won't be disappointed! For a tropical vacation right in your kitchen, make this blue hawaiian mocktail or mai tai drink for maximum relaxation.

If you're in the mood for something creamier, you can't go wrong with my white Russian mocktail or chai white Russian mocktail. Coffee lovers and chocolate lovers can't get enough of these.

Curious if your simple simple has gone bad? Better to be safe than sorry with our handy guide! Want to know if you can put agave nectar into your next mocktail instead of simple syrup? Explore our quick guide to sweeteners for mocktails.

I recommend pairing this beautiful, zesty mocktail with something subtle and delicious, like my Canned Chickpea Hummus, carrot, baked feta or brie, or white bean hummus. It's easy to prepare and delicious. For a hummus that matches in color, this roasted beet hummus is a must! Another dip that I come back to again and again is this Moroccan-inspired eggplant and tomato dip.

I love serving these vegan eggplant stacks and excellent air-fried cheese curds.

For the sweet tooths out there, these chocolate-covered marshmallow treats, pecan pralines, or white chocolate bark are to must.