There is a large portion of the population that prefers tea. And in recent years floral tea has caught the attention of a tea connoisseur. Butterfly pea flower tea is one such fancy tea that is hugely popular for its color – blue.

The best part is the effect of pH that causes it to change color. A slightly acidic environment turns the blue into a gorgeous purple.

I believe people prefer different kinds of tea as per their mood, and it’s not necessarily always for the taste. Say chamomile, jasmine or mint tea have a pleasant aroma. Blooming tea or blue tea has a more visual appeal. Just like southeast Asian countries, Assam is ideal for tea cultivation. However, I grew up drinking only black and milk tea. But the trend of drinking different kinds of tea is slowly catching up. The butterfly pea flower plant also locally known as ‘Aparajita’ grows in Assam. And people have started using it in their tea blends.

Offering tea to guests is not just tradition but a ritual every Assamese family rejoices. Even on a hot summer afternoon, a cup of tea refreshes them. However, the heat is on the rise due to climate change. The frequent rain spells do give some relief, but the sunny weather leaves us drained. Perhaps an iced tea would be a better option once in a while.

Inspired by this tradition of serving tea, I have come up with this refreshing drink with tea.

Recipe of Butterfly pea blue iced tea

Preparation time: 10 min
Serves 3-4
Cooking time: NA

Ingredients

Butterfly blue tea 15-20 dried blooms
Water 1 liter
Coconut water 1 liter

Method

1. Heat 1 liter of water and soak 15 to 20 butterfly pea flowers. Let the blue color slowly seep out. Strain and let the tea cool. Make ice.
2. At the time of serving, just pour the chilled coconut water in glasses and top it with the blue tea ice. Add an edible flower to make it fancy.

Serve this blue iced tea to your guests and watch them smile. One can’t ignore the mesmerizing blue color and the stimulating effect of the color change with a few drops of lemon juice.

Infused blue tea water

Preparation time: 10 min
Serves 3-4
Cooking time: NA

Ingredients

Butterfly pea blooms 20-25
Lemon 1 (sliced)
Sparkling water 500ml
Normal water 500 ml
Mint leaves ½ a cup
Cucumber 1
Ice cubes

Method
Bring the normal water to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and add the butterfly pea blooms. Once your tea is ready, and all the color has been released. Strain. Let it cool.
In a pitcher add all the other ingredients along with the chilled blue tea. Give it a stir and enjoy.

However, blue tea is not just a fancy drink, it has a few health benefits. It has anti-aging properties and is rich in antioxidants. Helps prevent some common eye infections.

Will come up with more recipes with this magical ingredient. So keep watching this space