Description
A refreshing and visually stunning iced latte made from butterfly pea flower tea, lightly sweetened and brightened with lemon juice, then topped with creamy milk or a non-dairy alternative. Perfect for a cool, colorful beverage with a natural floral taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup dried butterfly pea flowers
- Sweetener (honey or sugar), to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For Serving
- Ice cubes
- 1/2 cup milk or non-dairy alternative (such as almond or oat milk)
- Lemon slices or edible flowers for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Steep the Tea: Boil 2 cups of water and then remove it from heat. Add 1/4 cup of dried butterfly pea flowers to the hot water and steep for 10 minutes to extract the vibrant color and floral flavor.
- Strain the Flowers: Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the tea into a bowl or pitcher, discarding the spent flowers to leave a clear, blue infusion.
- Add Sweetener and Lemon: While the tea is still warm, stir in your preferred sweetener (such as honey or sugar) to taste, then add fresh lemon juice to the tea. The lemon juice will change the color from blue to a beautiful purple hue.
- Cool the Tea: Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before proceeding to preserve the fresh flavors and prevent dilution when added to ice.
- Assemble the Latte: Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, pour the cooled butterfly pea flower tea over the ice, then top with 1/2 cup of milk or your chosen non-dairy milk alternative. Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with lemon slices or edible flowers for an inviting presentation, then serve immediately for a refreshing, colorful iced tea latte.
Notes
- You can adjust sweetness according to your preference, starting with 1 tablespoon and increasing if needed.
- Non-dairy milk options like almond, oat, or coconut milk work well for a vegan version.
- The color transformation from blue to purple is due to the acidity of the lemon juice reacting with butterfly pea flower pigment.
- To make a warm version, serve the tea hot without ice and add warm milk instead.
- Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled for better flavor and color effect.
