This tangy and refreshing Butterfly Pea Lemonade is naturally and magically color-changing from the butterfly pea tea flowers! This stunning lemonade changes color from a deep blue, to purple, to a pale pink, thanks to the acidity of lemon juice!
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If you're looking for a truly showstopping and refreshing beverage, this magical color-changing lemonade is it! If you aren't familiar with butterfly pea tea flowers, they're a naturally deep blue-hued flower found in Southeast Asia.
They've gained popularity in recent years in the United States, and now you can purchase them dried to make tea, other drinks, and bake with. The flavor these tiny blue flowers bring to this drink is a subtle, earthy flavor that complements this lemonade wonderfully.
We first tried this tea on vacation in Thailand, and fell in love! It starts out as a deep sapphire blue, and then when you add acidic ingredients (commonly lemon or lime juice) it changes the pH and transforms to a deep magenta, then to to a pale pink.
Butterfly pea flowers are used in our lavender simple syrup to give it's signature purple color. You may also enjoy our lavender martini, or our lavender gin fizz for their pretty purple hue!
For another fun lemonade recipe to try this summer, check out our cherry lemonade or this lavender lemonade!
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❤️Why We Love This Recipe
- Only 4 ingredients needed. The only thing you'll need to plan ahead for is getting your hands on butterfly pea tea flowers. We can get it quickly online! Other than that, you really only need lemons, water, and sugar!
- Easy to make. This drink comes together so easily, anyone can do this! All you have to do is make lemon water with freshly squeezed lemon juice, and an easy butterfly pea tea flower simple syrup. Combine the two over ice, and voila - it's magic!
- Stunning presentation to please a crowd. If you want to make something truly magical for guests, this one will win you all kinds of brownie points. Simply keep the lemon water and butterfly pea tea simple syrup separate. Have guests mix up their own for the magical effect!
- Fun and festive. You don't need a special occasion to make this drink, but it's also great for special occasions too! Try making this for Halloween, a Mother's Day brunch, Easter, baby showers, birthday parties, Valentine's Day, and more!
🍋Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Butterfly pea tea flowers. This is the only ingredient that can't usually be found easily in stores, at least yet in the United States! We purchase butterfly pea tea flowers online, and they stay fresh for a long period of time.
- Water. Filtered water is going to taste the best in the lemonade.
- Lemons. Is it really lemonade if you're not using fresh lemons? In our opinion, no. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a must here!
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨Substitutions & Variations
Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.
- Swap the sweetener. You can use honey, or agave syrup instead of plain white sugar if you'd like.
- Sugar free version. If you'd like to reduce the sugar in this recipe, feel free to swap the sugar with your favorite sugar substitute. We like allulose sweetener because it won't crystallize in the fridge. Allulose is slightly less sweet than regular sugar, so you will need to add about ⅓ more than you would regular sugar to reach the same level of sweetness.
- Make limeade! This drink would also taste amazing with fresh lime juice instead of lemon juice if you'd like. You've just made limeade instead of lemonade. ☺️
- Add in additional flavor. Feel free to add in some more fruity flavor you'd like! Try adding some blueberry simple syrup to keep the same color palate. This lemonade would also taste great with raspberry simple syrup, or strawberry simple syrup!
🔪Prep Work
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice.
- Measure out the remaining ingredients.
📋Instructions
Add water, sugar, and butterfly pea tea flowers to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then quickly reduce to a simmer, and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, remove from the heat, and let the mixture cool down and steep for another 15 minutes. (Image 1)
After 15 minutes, strain the flowers away using a fine metal sieve, (Image 2) and let the simple syrup cool off before making the lemonade. We like to put ours in the fridge or freezer for about 15 minutes.
⭑Pro Tip: Make sure the simple syrup is completely chilled before mixing drinks, or else it will just melt your ice!
In a container or pitcher, combine the cold water and lemon juice. (Image 3)
To assemble, add ice to glasses. Start by filling up each glass about halfway with the butterfly pea simple syrup. (Image 4)
Fill up the glass with the lemon water, and watch the gradient of colors appear! It will transform from a deep sapphire blue to an indigo purple, to a pale pink color near the top of the drink! (Image 5)
Garnish with mint and a lemon wheel if desired. Stir the mixture thoroughly and watch the mixture transform to a deep magenta color. (Image 6)
Add the cream cheese, (Image 10) and cream together for an additional 3-4 minutes, until the mixture is completely soft and free from lumps. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times. (Image 11)
⭑Pro Tip: Make sure it's completely combined before enjoying, otherwise, the bottom of the drink will simply be sugar water, and the top will be sour lemon water.
Now all that's left to do is enjoy!
✨Tips & tricks
- Use fresh ice. Use fresh ice if possible! Old ice that has been sitting at the back of the freezer may have had time to absorb scents from other food.
- Use fresh lemon juice! This is non-negotiable! There is just no way this recipe would taste nearly as good if you use anything other than fresh lemon juice.
- Make sure all of your liquids are cold. We know it can be hard to wait, but make sure everything is nice and cold or else you will just melt the ice in your drink and water it down.
- Sweeten to taste. Add as much or as little butterfly pea simple syrup as you'd like. If making this drink for the first time, add less, taste, and then add more to taste.
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💭Frequently Asked Questions
We don't recommend storing the lemonade after it's poured over ice, but it can be stored in the fridge for a couple of hours before the ice melts too much.
You can make the components in advance before mixing, however. The simple syrup can be made and stored in the fridge for at least 3-4 weeks in an airtight container, or in the freezer for up to 1 year.
The lemon water should be used within 3-4 days and should be kept in the fridge in an airtight container.
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📖 Recipe
Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
Butterfly pea tea simple syrup
- ½ cup dried butterfly pea flowers about 8-12 grams
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
- 2 cups water
Lemon water
- 10 ounces lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 3 cups cold water
- Mint and lemon for garnish optional
Instructions
Butterfly pea tea simple syrup
- Add water, sugar, and butterfly pea tea flowers to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then quickly reduce to a simmer, and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes.½ cup dried butterfly pea flowers, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 cups water
- After 10 minutes, remove from the heat, and let the mixture cool down and steep for another 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, strain the flowers away using a fine metal sieve, and let the simple syrup cool off before making the lemonade.
Lemonade
- To a separate pitcher, combine cold water and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir to combine.10 ounces lemon juice, 3 cups cold water
- When it's time to serve, fill glasses with ice. Fill them about halfway with the cooled butterfly pea tea simple syrup, then top with the lemon water, and watch the magic happen!
- Garnish with a wheel of lemon, and mint if desired. Be sure to stir the mixture before drinking, because all of the sweetener will be at the bottom, and the lemon juice will be at the top. Enjoy!Mint and lemon for garnish
- The simple syrup can be stored in the fridge for at least 3-4 weeks in an airtight container, or in the freezer for up to 1 year. The lemon water should be used within 3-4 days and should be kept in the fridge in an airtight container.
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Notes
- Use fresh ice. Use fresh ice if possible! Old ice that has been sitting at the back of the freezer may have had time to absorb scents from other food.
- Use fresh lemon juice! This is non-negotiable! There is just no way this recipe would taste nearly as good if you use anything other than fresh lemon juice.
- Make sure all of your liquids are cold. We know it can be hard to wait, but make sure everything is nice and cold or else you will just melt the ice in your drink and water it down.
- Sweeten to taste. Add as much or as little butterfly pea simple syrup as you'd like. If making this drink for the first time, add less, taste, and then add more to taste.
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