An all natural, color changing, “magic” lavender lemonade recipe using butterfly pea flower.  This recipe is fun and filled with health benefits, too!

Butterfly Pea Flower Lavender Lemonade: Magic Lemonade

 

One of our local coffee shops recently served me an all natural, color changing, herbal “butterfly tea” and I was mesmerized.

 

 

That’s because when I squeezed a lemon in my tea, the color changed from dark indigo to vibrant hot pink right before my eyes. I was completely fascinated!

 

So I went home, did some research, ordered some organic dried butterfly pea flowers on Amazon (Find HERE) and have been hooked ever since. 

 

 

If you’ve never had or heard of this “magic tea” before, you’re in for a treat!

 

The traditional recipe (nam dok anchan) from Thailand simply uses butterfly pea flowers, lemon and honey and it’s often drank in the evening as a relaxing, stress relieving tea. But I’ve got to be honest. I didn’t love the taste.

 

I wasn’t about to let that stop me, though. So I had fun experimenting with different flavors to add to my butterfly pea flowers.

 

And I discovered that when you add different fruit juices and/or herbs to butterfly pea flowers, it goes from blah to absolutely delicious!

 

 

To date, my favorite butterfly pea flower concoction is adding lavender and lemon. I love lavender lemonade and if you do, too, I think you’ll especially love this adaptation. I mean, have you ever had a lemonade that’s so vibrant purple and then changes to brilliant fuchsia….annnnnd it’s completely natural and healthy? How cool is that?!

 

My toddler calls it our magic lemonade and we love making it together!

 

 

And the good stuff doesn’t stop there. In traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, Butterfly Pea Flowers (Clitoria ternatea) have been used for centuries as a healing plant medicine and herbal health tonic! 

 

Health Benefits of Butterfly Pea Flowers

 

Healers throughout the world traditionally and most often use butterfly pea flowers (Native to Southeast Asia) as a memory enhancer, brain booster, stress reliever and antidepressant. Several studies show that the brain boosting effects offer a wide spectrum of neurological benefits including helping with depression, stress and anxiety.

 

Butterfly pea flowers are also highly regarded for their beautifying properties. In fact, many hair and skincare products are derived from the Butterfly Pea Flower because of the positive effects it has on skin and hair. This beautiful blue flower has been studied to show that it helps combat wrinkles, encourages collagen production and protects your skin from premature aging. Butterfly Pea Flowers can also promote healthy hair growth.

 

Yes, please! 🙂

 

 

How does butterfly pea flower tea change color?

When the sapphire blue flowers are steeped in water, they turn the water a brilliant shade of dark purple or blue. The longer you steep the flowers, the richer and more vibrant the color.

 

 

The butterfly pea flowers are rich in a violet and blue plant pigment called anthocyanins. When the flowers are subjected to a change in pH level from an acid (lemon, lime, honey, citrus fruits, etc), it causes a color change, much like how hydrangeas can change color with different pH levels. 

 

 

Butterfly Pea Flower Lavender Lemonade Recipe:

 

 

I hope you enjoy this fun, color changing recipe as much as we do! And please let me know if you experiment with the butterfly pea flowers – I’d love to try your ideas, too! Have fun and enjoy!

 

Pin Butterfly Pea Flower Lavender Lemonade Recipe HERE: