Butterfly Pea Flower Cocktail Recipe
Impress your guests with a unique and visually striking magically color changing Butterfly Pea Flower Cocktail at your next gathering.
Impress your friends with a boozy magic trick by mixing up some Butterfly Pea Flower Cocktails at your next get-together!
This color changing cocktail is spin off of mint juleps. As any Southerner or Derby die-hards will tell you, mint juleps are not for the faint of heart. They are on the boozier side, featuring lots of bourbon. And they are absolutely delicious and perfect to keep cool on a hot day.
I, Ashley Conway made this Butterfly Flower Pea Cocktail with lots of crushed ice, fresh mint, a color changing syrup (yes, seriously!) and some added lemon juice for a balanced and perfectly crushable cocktail recipe! Where does the magic part come in? With a little science and help from a flower! The Butterfly Pea Flower!
What is a Butterfly Pea Flower?
The butterfly pea plant or clitoria ternatea is wildflower vine plant. The flower originates from Thailand, where it is used in herbal teas and dishes to create a color changing effect. When expanded, the vine plant expands to resemble a butterfly. (Hence, it’s name.) When citrus juice or other acidic ingredients are added to a drink or dish with the flower, it changes color!
When the ph level fluctuates, so does the color, changing from a vibrant blue to purple and finally to pink in some cases, giving the drink a “galaxy” like effect. This special ingredient acts as a natural food coloring. And it doesn’t have to be only used in cocktails! Locals actually use the flower in a popular Asian tea, Nam Dok Anchan.
Something as simple as lemonade pairs well with butterfly pea flower tea. The Southeast Asia flower is actually with filled with anti-inflammatory compounds. So it’s a perfect relaxing drink that’s rich in antioxidants. For this cocktail, lemon juice is poured over the drink to make the butterfly pea flower change from deep blue to a pretty purple.
Ingredients Needed
- Bourbon
- Butterfly pea flower syrup — The simple syrup is easy to to make and only requires dried butterfly flower, water and sugar.
- Mint leaves — For your cocktail and for garnishing
- Lemon juice — The important acidic element needed to get your cocktail to change colors.
- Crushed ice
Where to Buy Butterfly Tea Flower
You can purchase dried butterfly pea flowers online from Amazon, Etsy or find them at a spice or herbal store. They’re also sold as butterfly pea tea (which is caffeine free). However, make sure to buy whole dried flowers instead of the powdered tea. They’re really popular for their mood ring color changing ways so you’d be surprised how easily they can be found!
How To Make A Butterfly Pea Flower Syru
Butterfly pea flower has an earthy and woody taste similar to green tea. However, with some sugar, it makes for a sweet blue tea simple syrup. You can also drizzle the syrup over pancakes, waffles, or desserts for a burst of color and flavor. Enjoy experimenting with this unique and beautiful syrup! Here’s how to brew your own:
1 — Steep 1/8 cup of dried butterfly pea flowers in boiling hot water for 15 minutes. Then, strain out the flowers with a fine mesh strainer.
2 — Add 1 1/2 cups of the butterfly flower tea to a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups of sugar and heat on medium. You can reserve the leftover tea to drink or freeze into ice cubes and crush for this drink.
3 — Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool. Store your Butterly Pea syrup in a jar or airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to a month.
How to Make a Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Cocktail
Before you start, make sure you’ve made butterfly flower syrup beforehand.
1 — Gently muddle mint leaves in a julep cup or fluted glass.
2 — Next, add crushed ice to fill 3/4 of the glass.
3 — Then, add bourbon and the Butterfly Pea Flower syrup and stir to chill. Add more crushed ice to fill the glass.
4 — Pour lemon juice over the cocktail and watch the blue pea change colors! The presentation alone makes this such a fun drink.
5 — Make sure to stir it well. You’ll want to evenly mix the tart and sweet flavors. You’ll know when it’s ready when your drink is a deep magenta.
6 — Smack mint sprigs to release oils and then, garnish the glass. You don’t want to just throw in the mint. To “smack” the sprigs, place the sprig in one hand and gently smack it with the other. This is when the fresh flavors are released!
How to Make Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Cocktail for a Big Party
Our cocktail recipe makes for one serving. However, if you are hosting a large gathering or don’t want to individually make each cocktail, you can make a large batch. Just make sure to keep the simple syrup recipe and the bourbon and lemon juice mixture in separate pitchers.
More Fun And Easy Cocktail Recipes
Love how unique this Butterfly Pea Flower cocktail is? Check out our other favorite drinks and boozy treats that will wow your guest:
- 24 Carrot Cocktail — This beautiful drink is garnished with mini carrots and edible flowers.
- Ice Sphere Cocktail — This cocktail is served not on ice but in ice!
- Champagne Jello Shots — These classy shots are actually made of edible gold.
- Dotted Thai Fruit Cocktail — Basil seeds and dragonfruit add playful patterns.
- Refreshing Mojito Pitcher — Made in a big batch and perfect to cool down.
- Spiked Lollipops — They look like pretty jellyfish on a stick.
- Coffee Old Fashioned — For a twist on the classic.
- A simple and delicious mulled wine recipe – Perfect for cozy, cool weather nights
- Dark and Stormy Cocktail – Halloween is just around the corner and this cocktail is perfect for it!
- Root Beer Float – Make this as a boozy or classic drink recipe
- Apple Cider Drink – This can be a cocktail, cocktail, or just a detox iced drink!
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Julep cup
- Muddle
Ingredients
- 8 mint leaves and more for garnishing
- 2 1/2 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz butterfly flower syrup refer to recipe below
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- Crushed ice
Nutrition
Notes
- If you are hosting a large gathering or don’t want to individually make each cocktail, you can make a large batch. Just make sure to keep the simple syrup recipe and the bourbon and lemon juice mixture in separate pitchers.
Instructions
- Prepare the Butterfly Pea Flower simple syrup. Refer to the recipe below.
- Gently muddle mint leaves in a julep cup or fluted glass.
- Add crashed ice to fill 3/4 of the glass.
- Add bourbon and the Buttefly Pea Flower syrup and stir to chill.
- Add more crushed ice to fill the glass.
- Pour lemon juice over the cocktail and watch the blue pea change colors! Make sure to stir it well. You’ll want to evenly mix the tart and sweet flavors. You’ll know when it’s ready when your drink is a deep magenta.
- Smack mint sprig to release oils and garnish the glass. To “smack” the sprigs, place the sprig in one hand and gently smack it with the other. This is when the fresh flavors are released!
Butterfly Flower Pea Syrup Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 0.125 cup dried Butterfly Pea flowers about 50 flowers
- 4 cup water
- 1.5 cup white granulated sugar
Nutrition
Notes
- Store your syrup in a jar or airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to a month
Instructions
- Boil water.
- Steep Butterfly Pea flowers in boiling water for 15 minutes.
- Strain out the flowers.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of the Butterfly Pea Flower tea to a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium. You can reserve the leftover tea to drink or freeze into ice cubes and crush for this drink.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool.
Don’t forget to share your Butterfly Pea Flower cocktail with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? You can find them all right here!
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