If you enjoy colourful drinks that look fancy but take almost no effort to prepare, blue tea is definitely worth trying. Made from the dried flowers of Clitoria ternatea, also known as butterfly pea, blue pea, or aparajita, this herbal infusion naturally produces a beautiful blue colour.
And you don't need any special equipment to make it. A few butterfly pea flowers, hot water, and a couple of minutes are all it takes to brew a cup. Want to make it more interesting? Add some fresh lemon or lime and watch the blue colour turn purple or pink.
So, if you've been searching for how to make blue tea, an easy butterfly pea tea recipe, or a simple blue pea tea recipe, here's everything you need to know.
What Is Blue Tea?
Blue tea is a caffeine-free herbal infusion made by steeping the dried flowers of the butterfly pea plant, scientifically called Clitoria ternatea. Unlike green, black, or oolong tea, it doesn't come from the traditional tea plant, Camellia sinensis. It's actually a floral tisane.
Its naturally intense blue shade comes from plant pigments called anthocyanins. These pigments are responsible for the red, purple, and blue colours found in many plants and fruits.
One of the reasons butterfly pea tea has become so popular is its naturally vibrant appearance. It also has a mild, earthy-floral taste that makes it easy to enjoy on its own or combine with ingredients such as lemon, honey, ginger, and lemongrass.
Ingredients for a Simple Butterfly Pea Tea Recipe
The classic recipe is incredibly simple. Here's what you'll need:
- 1 cup (about 240 ml) hot water
- 1 teaspoon dried butterfly pea flowers, or approximately 3–5 flowers
- Honey or another sweetener, optional
- Fresh lemon or lime juice, optional
You can adjust the number of flowers depending on how strong you want your tea to look and taste. More flowers or a slightly longer steep can give you a deeper blue colour.
How to Make Blue Tea at Home
Making blue tea takes only a few simple steps.
Step 1: Heat the Water
Heat approximately one cup of water until it reaches a boil. Pour the hot water into a mug, teapot, or heat-safe glass.
Step 2: Add the Butterfly Pea Flowers
Add your dried butterfly pea flowers to the hot water. If you're using a butterfly pea tea bag, simply place the bag directly into your cup.
Step 3: Let It Steep
Allow the flowers to infuse for around 3–7 minutes. As they steep, you'll see the water gradually develop its signature blue or indigo colour.
If you prefer a more intense colour, let the flowers steep for a little longer.
Step 4: Strain
Using loose flowers? Strain the tea into your serving cup to remove them. If you're using a tea bag, simply take it out once the tea has reached your preferred strength.
Step 5: Sweeten to Taste
Butterfly pea tea has a naturally delicate flavour, so you can drink it without anything added. If you prefer a sweeter cup, stir in a little honey or your preferred sweetener.
Step 6: Add Lemon and Watch the Colour Change
This is probably the most fun part.
Squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice into your blue tea and watch the colour shift towards purple or pink. The change happens because the acidic citrus juice alters the pH of the infusion, affecting the anthocyanin pigments naturally present in the flowers.
How to Make Butterfly Pea Tea With a Tea Bag
If measuring loose flowers isn't your thing, tea bags are a much easier option for everyday brewing.
Here's how to make it:
- Place one butterfly pea tea bag in a cup.
- Pour in hot water.
- Let it steep for around 3–5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag.
- Add honey, lemon, or lime if you like.
- Enjoy it hot or pour it over ice.
Tea bags are especially convenient when you want a quick cup without dealing with loose flowers or a strainer.
Easy Iced Blue Tea Recipe
Looking for something refreshing on a hot afternoon? Turn your butterfly pea tea into a colourful iced drink.
Ingredients
- 1–2 teaspoons dried butterfly pea flowers or 1–2 tea bags
- 1 cup hot water
- Ice cubes
- Lemon or lime juice
- Honey or another sweetener, optional
- Fresh mint, optional
Method
Start by brewing the butterfly pea flowers in hot water for about 5–7 minutes. Strain the tea and allow it to cool.
Fill a glass with ice and pour the cooled tea over it. If you'd like some sweetness, add honey while the tea is still slightly warm so it dissolves easily.
Finish with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Besides adding a refreshing citrus flavour, the juice will create the signature blue-to-purple colour change.
For a more flavourful iced tea, brew a slightly stronger concentrate before pouring it over ice.
How to Make Aparajita Tea
In India, butterfly pea is widely known as aparajita or blue pea. The basic preparation remains the same.
For a simple aparajita tea recipe, steep dried butterfly pea flowers in hot water for approximately five minutes, strain, and enjoy.
You can also customise the flavour with ingredients such as:
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Lemongrass
- Honey
- Lemon
- Mint
If you're using fresh flowers, make sure they are intended for culinary use and haven't been treated with pesticides or other chemicals that aren't suitable for consumption.
Why Does Blue Tea Change Colour?
The colour-changing effect is one of the coolest things about butterfly pea tea.
Butterfly pea flowers contain naturally occurring anthocyanin pigments. These pigments can respond to changes in acidity.
On its own, the infusion typically appears blue. Once you add an acidic ingredient such as lemon or lime juice, the pH changes and the colour can move from blue toward violet, purple, or even pink.
So, that dramatic colour transformation you see in blue tea isn't artificial colouring or a trick. It's a natural response between the pigments in the flowers and the acidity of the citrus.
Hot or Cold: Which Is Better?
The good news is that there isn't really a wrong way to enjoy butterfly pea tea.
Hot Blue Tea
A warm cup is perfect when you want a simple herbal drink. Enjoy it plain, or add honey, ginger, cinnamon, or lemongrass for extra flavour.
Iced Blue Tea
For warmer days, let your freshly brewed tea cool, pour it over ice, and add lemon or lime. You can also add fresh mint for an extra refreshing touch.
Easy Ways to Customize Your Blue Tea
Once you've tried the basic butterfly pea flower tea recipe, you can have fun experimenting with flavours.
Blue Tea With Lemon
Fresh lemon juice adds a bright citrus flavour while creating the famous blue-to-purple colour transformation.
Blue Tea With Honey
A small drizzle of honey can add sweetness without overpowering the delicate floral character of the tea.
Ginger Butterfly Pea Tea
Add a few thin slices of fresh ginger while the tea is steeping. Ginger brings a warm, slightly spicy flavour that balances the floral notes.
Butterfly Pea Tea With Lemongrass
Lemongrass gives the infusion a fresh citrusy aroma and makes an especially refreshing combination when served chilled.
Blue Tea Latte
For something a little different, brew a concentrated butterfly pea infusion and combine it with warm or frothed milk. You can create a colourful latte-style drink that's both creamy and visually striking.
Light Up Beauty Butterfly Pea Flower Herbal Tea
If you love the idea of butterfly pea tea but don't want to measure loose flowers every time, Light Up Beauty Butterfly Pea Flower Herbal Tea offers a convenient tea-bag option.
Made with butterfly pea flower, it's designed to make your everyday brewing routine quick and fuss-free. Simply place one tea bag in 150 ml of hot water and steep for 3–4 minutes.
You can enjoy it as a simple herbal infusion or personalise your cup with honey, lemon, ginger, or other ingredients you enjoy.
Tips for Making Better Butterfly Pea Tea
A few small adjustments can make your homemade blue tea even more enjoyable:
- Adjust the steeping time: Steeping for longer can produce a deeper colour.
- Use hot water: Hot water helps draw the natural colour from the dried flowers.
- Add citrus at the end: Wait until your tea is brewed before adding lemon or lime if you want to see the colour transformation.
- Start with less sweetener: Butterfly pea has a subtle flavour, so a little honey can go a long way.
- Try it over ice: Chilled butterfly pea tea is an easy way to turn the infusion into a refreshing summer drink.
- Mix up the flavours: Ginger, mint, cinnamon, and lemongrass are all easy additions to experiment with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Tea
Is blue tea the same as butterfly pea tea?
Yes. Blue tea, butterfly pea tea, blue pea tea, and butterfly pea flower tea are commonly used names for an infusion made from Clitoria ternatea. In India, you may also hear it called aparajita tea.
How long should butterfly pea tea steep?
Around 3–7 minutes is a good starting point. You can adjust the steeping time depending on how strong you want the colour and flavour.
Can I drink butterfly pea tea cold?
Yes. Brew the tea as usual, allow it to cool, and serve it over ice. Add lemon or lime just before drinking if you want a citrusy flavour and colour change.
Why does my blue tea turn purple?
The colour change occurs when acidic ingredients such as lemon or lime alter the pH of the infusion. The anthocyanin pigments in butterfly pea flowers respond to this change, causing the tea to shift from blue towards purple or pink.
Does butterfly pea tea contain caffeine?
Pure butterfly pea flower tea is naturally caffeine-free because it is made from Clitoria ternatea flowers rather than leaves from the traditional tea plant.
Can I drink blue tea every day?
Butterfly pea tea can be enjoyed as part of a regular beverage routine. However, it shouldn't be considered a substitute for medical treatment or a balanced diet. Research into its potential health effects in humans is still developing, so it's best to avoid treating it as a cure or making exaggerated wellness claims.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to make blue tea at home couldn't be easier. With butterfly pea flowers and hot water, you can prepare a naturally vibrant herbal drink in just a few minutes.
Start with the basic butterfly pea tea recipe, then make it your own with honey, lemon, ginger, mint, or lemongrass. You can enjoy it steaming hot, chill it for an iced version, or experiment with the colour-changing effect by adding citrus.
And if you want to skip the measuring and straining, a ready-to-brew butterfly pea tea bag is a convenient alternative for your everyday routine.
Beautiful, simple, and easy to customise, blue tea is a fun addition to your beverage menu—especially if you enjoy trying something a little different from your usual cup of tea.
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