Blue tea has been all over social media for a while now.
You may have watched in delight as the gorgeous cerulean tea was brewed with a great deal of flourish.
However, if you stop to think about it, you may realize that you don’t know too much about this beverage.
So, before you go ahead and make it yourself, here is the lowdown on the tea…
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Despite being frequently referred to as blue tea, it is actually a drink that is brewed from the butterfly pea flower.
This flower has actually had wide use in agricultural and commercial industries.
These days, though, it is prized for the pretty tea that it brews.
Blue tea is made with the use of the petals or the whole flower off the butterfly pea plant.
Of course, what most people are interested in is what blue tea actually tastes like.
Well, it has been described in several terms.
However, you will often find that the tea either has a woody, earthy flavor to it or is similar to green tea, with a slight grassy tea.
For some, it can be an acquired taste.
Blue tea actually has been used for many years.
And, during this time, there has been some research done into it.
So, if you have wondered “what is blue tea good for?” here are your answers:
Butterfly pea flowers have antioxidant properties.
As a result, they can have a wide variety of benefits.
Antioxidants work to prevent oxidative stress that can damage cells and tissues, leading to various other diseases.
This flower has also shown to have anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic capabilities.
Thus, the flowers can lower high blood sugar and fat levels in the blood.
Due to this, the flower could potentially prevent liver and kidney damage that is typically associated with diabetes mellitus.
In addition to its antioxidant effects, butterfly pea flower has antiglycation properties as well.
This means that it prevents sugars from attaching to proteins in the body and forming new harmful products.
In combination with the antioxidant properties, the antiglycation properties of the flower could help to prevent a wide number of age-related diseases.
There is no scientific evidence of any side effects of blue tea.
However, there is some suggestion that overindulging in the drink could cause an upset stomach or nausea.
Although this is a natural tea, it is important to understand that it is possible to be allergic to it.
Therefore, if you do notice any adverse reactions after drinking blue tea, make sure to cease consumption immediately.
You should also seek medical attention.
It is possible that blue tea could have a negative impact on existing medical conditions or any medications you may be currently.
Thus, if you are any taking any medications or have been diagnosed with a medical condition, you should speak with your doctor before drinking blue tea.
If you haven’t tried blue tea as yet, you may be wondering how you are supposed to drink it.
Now, the tea is brewed like most other herbal teas (see recipe below) – it is steeped in water.
Some people choose to add sweetener to it, while others forego the addition of sugar.
It is possible to get quite creative with blue tea as well.
If you are looking to switch things up, you can make lemonade and even cocktails with butterfly pea flower tea!
One of the more fascinating details about butterfly pea flower is that it can act as a pH indicator.
This means that it can show you whether a particular substance is an alkali or an acid.
It does this by changing color!
This effect is most impactful when the tea is mixed with an acid.
It will turn a beautiful and stunning purple.
When mixed with fuscia hibiscus flowers, the tea turns bright red.
You can actually experiment with different herbal teas to see if you can get various color changes.
Just make sure to pay attention to the taste pairings as you do so.
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Let’s take a look at how you can brew blue tea:
Serves 1
Step 1: Heat the Water
Heat the water until you begin to see medium-sized bubbles.
Take the water off the heat.
Step 2: Steep the Tea
Add the flowers to your cup and pour in the water.
Let the flowers steep for around 5 minutes.
Strain out the flowers.
Step 3: Add the Lemon
Squeeze the lemon juice over the tea and stir.
The color will slowly begin to change from blue to purple.
If you want iced blue tea, you can just keep the hot tea in the refrigerator until it has reached the desired temperature.
For a stronger taste, though, you can opt for the cold brewed version
Serves 1
Step 1: Steep the Flowers
Add the flowers to a glass, airtight jar or container.
Pour in the water and stir well.
Step 2: Keep Overnight
Allow the leaves to steep for at least 12 hours.
Strain out the flowers.
Consume immediately with or without ice.
Serves 2
Step 1: Boil the Water
Heat the water until you begin to small and medium sized bubbles.
Take the water off the heat.
Step 2: Steep the Tea
Add the leaves or the tea bags to a container or tea pot.
Pour in the water.
Allow the flowers to steep for around 5 minutes.
Strain the flowers or remove the tea bags from the tea.
Step 3: Combine the Sweet Ingredients
In a jug, combine the half & half, condensed milk, and vanilla.
Stir until all the ingredients have been combined well.
Step 4: Serve the Blue Tea
Divide the ice between two cups or glasses.
Carefully pour equal amounts of blue tea into each vessel.
Step 5: Add Sweet Mix
Slowly pour the sweet, milky mix into each of the glasses.
The color of the tea will lighten as this mix is added.
This is all that you need to know about the famous blue tea. As you can see, it is an incredibly interesting drink.
You can choose to make it the regular way or add some fun and intrigue to the process. Either way, you have a great drink on your hands.
If you enjoyed this post, go ahead and check out our Pinterest page. It has plenty of other posts on fun and interesting teas!
