The year is 2023 and the journey of tea has come a long, long way, in the last 2500 years. Since its inception, it has traversed through numerous cultures across the world and has been tried and tested with several ingredients in countless ways. It has a fascinating history of its own and how the world welcomed it with its new variants every once in a while.
Cut to the 21st century, for a brief period, especially in the last couple of decades Green Tea became a bit more popular with respect to black tea, white tea, or others. However, with time the popularity seems to have waned as it could not stand up to the self-manufactured expectations it had raised with its ardent celebrity marketing.
Today the biggest talk of the town for tea lovers is not green tea anymore. It is much more than that. It is the organically rising popularity of the magical, color-changing tea that comes with all the goodness of Ayurveda, the Butterfly Pea Flower Tea. Yes, you heard that right- it is a herbal tea that comes with a natural passionate blue color once brewed. Again the color turns from blue to purple if you put some lemon into it. It’s a delightful treat to watch. No wonder it has taken the world of tea by storm by setting a new trend. Let’s deep dive.
What is a Butterfly Pea Flower Tea?
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea also known as Blue Tea is made from the Butterfly Pea flowers, also known as Asian Pigeonwings or blue peas worldwide. In India, the flowers are popularly known as Shankhpushpi or Aprajita. These had been known to be used in Ayurveda for thousands of years due to their several health benefits (mentioned in detail below). The scientific name of the plant is Clitoria ternatea. The flowers are simply plucked and sundried (no machine heat is applied) to retain all the nutrients and then packed fresh.
Color Changing property
This herbal tea offers a visual treat in each cup due to its color-changing properties. The tea changes its color because of the effect of new ingredients on its pH level. For example, lemon slices due to their citrus nature cause the tea to become more acidic, resulting in a rich purple hue. This color-changing property of the tea makes it a stunning addition to an afternoon tea party or a family gathering. It is also used in mocktails and cocktails by bartenders worldwide.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea taste
As the tea is made from flowers it has a smoother taste than any other traditional tea. It has an earthy and woody flavor with a mild sweet aroma. You can blend the tea with honey, lemon as per taste, and some Indian spices like cinnamon, star anise, ginger, etc.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits for Stress Relief
The butterfly-pea flower tea can help enhance mood. Those with symptoms of anxiety can try this for its stress-busting effects. You can drink it any time of the day, any season.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits for Hair
Butterfly Pea flowers are loaded with anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are compounds that help increase blood circulation in the head thus helping in maintaining a healthy scalp.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits for Weight Loss
This tea has zero calories. It is caffeine-free and has no carbs, fats, or cholesterol. This may help you with your weight management program.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits for Skin
The flavonoids present in blue tea help in enhancing and maintain skin elasticity. A daily cup of this tea can help remove dark spots, brighten skin tone, and provide wrinkle-free skin.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits for Digestion
The richness of antioxidants in this tea makes it a perfect drink to add to your detox diet plan. Drinking a cup of blue tea daily on an empty stomach may improve digestive health.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Benefits for Memory
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea is known to be a natural nootropic herb. This means it can help improve your cognitive abilities and boost your memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT DOES BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER TEA TASTES LIKE?
Butterfly Pea Flower tea has a smooth and earthy taste. It tastes great with some honey and lemon juice as well.
BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER HEALTH BENEFITS?
Butterfly pea flowers are rich in anthocyanins that help in building & restoring the skin’s collagen. It can also work great as a part of your weight loss diet. It is rich in antioxidants and has zero caffeine. It is known to be an excellent stress reliever. It is believed to be good for hair, skin, digestion, and memory.
DOES BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER TEA CONTAIN CAFFEINE?
No, Butterfly Pea Flower Tea does not contain any Caffeine. As these are not oxidized, unlike green tea that comes from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis plants, Butterfly Pea Flower Tea doesn’t have any caffeine content in it.
CAN YOU DRINK TOO MUCH BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER TEA?
It is best to drink in moderation. If you consume anything without moderation, it is not good for your health. However, a cup or two daily is perfectly fine.
HOW TO MAKE BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER TEA?
- Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Add 5-6 butterfly pea flower petals to the hot water and steep for 1-2 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor will be.
- Pour the tea into a glass teacup. Enjoy.
- Optional: you can add a dash of lemon to watch the hue turn a deep purple. Add sweetener as desired.
- NOTE: You can bring it to room temperature and add some ice cubes to your glass and consume it as an Iced Tea. It can be a perfect respite for you this summer.
Conclusion
With time the tea-drinking experience has outgrown itself from just flavors. Today it is not just about taste, it is also about the visual experience and its beautiful preparation, let alone the health benefits it brings in. The most exciting part about Butterfly Pea Flower Tea is that it is barely new. Yes, it has resurfaced to us in the last few years but it has been in use as Flower Tea for thousands of years in India as well as other parts of the world. It is believed that the monks and yogis used to drink it for its calming & soothing properties. So what are you waiting for? Try your cup today and experience an exquisite, unique cup of tea.
