EAT IN ASIA / Food destinations / Thailand - thai food
Discover magical health benefits of a Thai blue Butterfly Pea tea
Have you ever heard about a changing color tea? Surprised? From intensively blue turned into a vivid, beetroot purple? One magical ingredient that you know very well will do the trick! Curious? Read the post!
A Thai Butterfly Pea Tea
Probably you have already seen it if staying in Thailand for a couple of days but highly probably you have never thought about that drink as a natural healthy one. I am pretty sure your first thought was that this drink’s color is superficial and definitively not healthy.
Nothing more wrong! The color is obtained in a natural way and what is more, the plant that gives the color is super healthy too! Especially for girls and women!
How does the Butterfly Pea tea look like?
The drink has a vivid blue color. Generally speaking, it is a very translucent infusion as a regular tea. The color, although is a strong one is not very vivid. I would say that depending on the dilution by ice it is either of a pale blue color or navy. Sometimes, it has a beetroot purple color thanks to an extra natural ingredient (read about the magical trick below).
The most popular way of serving the tea is to make it as a cold tea with ice cubes. Sometimes you might find hot versions, however, this option is surely less popular due to the hot climate that rather pushes you to have something cold to drink than anything hot. Apart from that, sugar or any other sweetener is added. However, usually that is either a regular sugar or a glucose syrup. Well, to tell you the truth, I would never expect any Thai drink to be served without any additional sweetener, as it is like a tradition to prepare any drink with plenty of sugar. The sweeter it is, the better it is according to many Thai people! So, if you would like to have a plain drink you have to mention it explicitly! Otherwise, do not expect it to be served with some sugar sachets aside!
Butterfly Pea tea’s variations
Plain Butterfly Pea Teas
Thai Butterfly Pea Tea is usually served cold and with no extra milk. Rarely, will you find any hot option as Thai people do not tend to drink hot beverages. However, if the tea is prepared freshly and not from the previously prepared infusion, you can always ask for it.
Butterfly Pea Tea with milk
Serving the Butterfly Pea Tea with milk is available in some places too. This option is then prepared either with a sweet, condensed milk or with a semi-condensed unsweet milk from a can. Rarely, they serve it with a fresh, bottled milk. I mean a regular cow milk that you use for cappuccino for example. Finally, vegan milk replacements are available in, let’s say, better or more sophisticated places. Here, soy, almond, wheat or coconut milk substitutes might be an option.
Then come the sweetness level of the drink. Usually, as said before, the Butterfly Pea Tea is served sweet in some way. Either the sweetness comes directly from the low-calories sweetener, sugar, glucose syrup or from the sweetened and condensed milk.
However, in some places, healthy alternatives are available too. Here, you will be able to get your tea with stevia or honey.
Butterfly Pea Tea with soda
Another option is to take a Butterfly Pea soda. Actually, that is nothing more than an infusion mixed with sparkling water. More or less, it is like a sparkling tea and comes with ice cubes and some sweeteners too.
Butterfly Pea Tea with honey and lemon
Finally, what should be not missed is the Butterfly Pea Tea with honey and lemon. Not only the color is surprising, but also that is one of the healthiest versions. Loaded with nutritive minerals and vitamins nicely quenches thirst and refreshes.
Garnishing a Butterfly Pea Tea
Thai people love serving their food with some garnishes. It can be almost everything that is edible. Herbs, nuts, flowers, vegetables and fruits. When talking about meals, Thai usually use lime, coriander chives and peanuts.
In case of drinks flowers, candies, jellies, tapioca bubbles and crunches are used. However, that is almost a standard that if you choose an infusion, I mean an herbal drink, then it is garnished with the used flower. Given that, the Butterfly pea tea is mainly served with some its flowers or butterfly pea’s petals.
Do the trick and change the Butterfly Pea tea color
Do you want to do some magic? Change your blue Butterfly Pea tea into a purple one?
Just one thing, so super popular and well known will do the trick. Wondering what? Lime or lemon! Yes, that is true! Well, actually that is just chemistry, nothing more. To tell you the truth, any other sour or acidic ingredient will do the same, but I guess, you would not like to drink tea with vinegar!
So, just squeeze lime or lemon into the cup and wait a moment till the whole drink turns from blue to beetroot purple one. To improve the taste, add some honey or even some fresh mint leaves.
Butterfly Pea health benefits
- Butterfly Pea has been used for ages in a traditional, ancient Thai herbal medicine to treat hair loss and premature grey hair.
- Butterfly Pea detoxifies the whole body.
- Butterfly Pea improves immune system.
- Butterfly Pea contains a lot of anthocyanins that improve and cure eyesight.
- Butterfly Pea contains antioxidants that slow down aging processes.
- Finally, it is said that Butterfly Pea is perfect for women as it regulates periods. (Butterfly Pea’s Latin name, Clitoria Ternatea, is that has some common word roots with female reproductive organs.)
- Butterfly Pea is caffeine-free.
How to make a popular Thai blue tea? Brewing Butterfly Pea Tea recipe
- Take 2 – 3 g of the tea (more or less about five to six flowers)
- Put flowers in a teapot or a mug
- Pour boiled water in a temperature of about 80°C - 100°C
- Brew for about 2 to 5 minutes
And your drink is ready!
Additionally, you can add some ice, honey, a couple of drops of lemon or lime to get a refreshing, colorful beverage.
Author: Beti – A passionate traveler and lover of Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Japanese dishes, Bernadeta brings her culinary and cultural experiences to life in her writing. Beyond her travels, she’s an avid technology enthusiast with a deep interest in data processing, merging her love for exploration with analytical insights.
Photographer: Adalbert – An aficionado of computers and photography, Adalbert captures the essence of diverse cuisines with a discerning eye. A connoisseur of rich flavors and particularly fond of meat-based dishes, he combines his technical skills with his passion for the culinary arts in every shot.
