My love affair with Butterfly Pea Tea started on a trip to Bangkok. It was served on check in to our hotel and in the morning breakfast buffet. The colour is a vibrant blue which changes to a deep violet or purple when lemon or other acidic food is added.
Not only does the colour look enticing, in Thailand, Butterfly Pea Tea is commonly made with honey, brown sugar, limes and lemonade which makes a very sweet and enjoyable drink. However, on its own, it has natural earthy flavours – enjoyable any time of the day.
Butterfly Pea Tea is a flower made from a Southeast Asian flower and it has many health benefits – especially to the skin and mood.
Netmeds.com1 lists the below benefits:
- Improves skin health – the tea contains flavonoids which help stimulate collagen production which improves skin elasticity. It also helps your digestive system remove undigested food resulting in brighter skin removing dark spots and uneven skin tone
- Improves hair growth – the tea also contains anthocyanin which is known to increase blood circulation to the head which helps improve scalp health. In addition, it helps strengthen hair follicles.
- Accelerates weight loss and supports digestion – it is caffeine free, contains no calories and helps regulate appetite making this a great drink for those on a weight loss diet. It is also high in antioxidants which help protect the body against free radical damage. Drinking one to two cups of Butterfly Pea Tea on an empty stomach a week helps remove toxins accumulated in your digestive system
- Improves mood – the earthy flavour is calming. The tea is believed to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
In addition to the above health benefits, it seriously looks amazing. I normally drink the tea on its own; however it also makes an incredible cocktail with gin or vodka, lemonade and adding a splash of pineapple juice just prior to serving so your guests can enjoy the colour changing effect.
Butterfly Pea Tea is generally not available at local grocery stores, but a quick search on Google will reveal your local suppliers.
- Divya Bharat (Biotechnology). Blue Tea: Unbelievable Health Benefits of This Butterfly Pea Flower Infusion. https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/blue-tea-unbelievable-health-benefits-of-this-butterfly-pea-flower-infusion. Netmeds.com. Accessed 2/10/2021