I know you're wondering, "what does butterfly pea flower tea taste like", but let's first touch on the (blue) elephant in the room: that mesmerizing blue color!
I know, I couldn't believe it either as NO other herbal tea I've ever seen even slightly compares! So where does that WOW factor come from?
What Is Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Tea?
Butterfly pea flower tea, more commonly known as blue tea, is a brightly colored herbal tisane made from the Clitoria ternatea plant that has been consumed in Asia for centuries and has only recently become popular around the world.
This type of tea gets that jaw-dropping blue hue from the actual butterfly pea flowers which are dried and then sold as loose-leaf tea for brewing.
What makes it even more fun is that, when citrus is added to the tea, the water's pH level changes and it turns purple!
So now back to the original question:
What Does Butterfly Pea Tea Taste Like?
Well, the flavor of blue tea is somewhat difficult to describe because it seems to be quite subjective depending on who you ask.
Some people describe it as delicate, slightly sweet, with floral hints that resemble chamomile tea, while others say that it tastes earthy, woody, and slightly vegetal like a fine green tea- only milder.
What is pretty widely agreed upon is that it does NOT taste citrusy or fruity like one might expect it to based on the stunning blue color!
Some even say it doesn't have much of a discernable flavor at all! Which brings me to my next point...
What Are Some Fun Ways To Use Butterfly Pea Tea?
In spite of such a lackluster-sounding flavor profile, this fancy blue tea continues to gain popularity among, not only health-conscious tea drinkers, but also those looking for a unique and fun beverage to spice things up, stop the scroll on their socials, and/or wow patrons/ party guests.
Here are a few ways in which people are using blue butterfly pea flower tea:
- As a natural food dye: Because of its vibrant blue color, butterfly pea tea is a popular choice for foods such as baked goods, rice dishes, noodles, yogurts/puddings, and even hard-boiled eggs!
- To make fun beverages: Bar tenders and party throwers alike are using butterfly pea tea to make conversation-starting cocktails and mocktails and ice cubes! Moms are putting it to work for them in their never-ending battle of keeping kiddos hydrated. Slushies, smoothies, lemonade... really anything you want blue or purple (remember adding citrus to blue tea changes its color) is fair game!
- To dye textiles. That means it does stain! You have been warned. ;)
- In DIY skin and hair care products. Please look into this one and do your own research before using blue tea in these ways but I've heard of people mixing it into homemade masks, toners/cleansers, and shampoos to get the benefits of its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
- To color homemade candles: Blue tea can be used to make blue or pink/purple homemade candles! What a great gift idea, right? Shoot, or for yourself just to have around your own home. SO FUN!
There's even a "blue matcha" that's made from the entire pulverized butterfly pea flower that makes delicious lattes and smoothies and everything else above. When it comes to this magical pea flower, the world is your oyster- and a very blue one at that!
What are the health benefits of blue butterfly pea tea?
There are many potential health benefits of blue butterfly pea tea, including its ability to improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, help manage diabetes, promote heart health, reduce inflammation, boost cognitive function, and support skin health.
This tea is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and its active compounds have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-cancer properties.
I mean, it's like the gift that keeps on giving!
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Final Thoughts
Hopefully, at this your question: "What does butterfly pea flower tea taste like?" has been answered. Regardless of how you may feel about its flavor profile, one thing is for sure: there's no denying that butterfly pea tea is unlike any other herbal tea you've ever tried.
So whether you actually ARE interested in trying this tea for its taste, for its MANY health benefits, or you're mainly excited just to get your hands on it for its eye-catching color-changing abilities, it's safe to say you won't be disappointed!
A loose-leaf type like Khwan's ORGANIC Dried Butterfly Pea Flower would be a surefire place to start and is highly rated on Amazon and more affordable than many of its non-organic competitors. You ARE welcome! ;)
Have so much fun painting your world blue (or purple-whatever you're into) and thanks for reading!