Discover the vibrant beauty and subtle flavours of the Butterfly Pea Tea Latte! This unique twist on the classic latte features butterfly pea flowers, known for their mesmerizing blue hue and delicate earthy notes. It’s a visually stunning and flavourful alternative to your usual coffee or tea-based latte.
What is a Butterfly Pea Tea Latte?
A Butterfly Pea Tea Latte starts with a concentrated infusion of butterfly pea flowers, steeped in hot water to create a vibrant blue tea. This tea is then combined with your choice of steamed milk (dairy or plant-based) and a touch of sweetener for a delicious and visually captivating drink.
Flavour Profile
Butterfly pea flowers have a subtle, slightly earthy flavour that complements the creaminess of the milk beautifully. The overall taste is mild and refreshing, making it a great option for those seeking a less intense caffeine experience.
One of the most exciting aspects of Butterfly Pea Tea Lattes is their potential for colour transformation! Adding a touch of acidity, such as a squeeze of lemon, will shift the vibrant blue hue into beautiful shades of purple and pink, creating a mesmerising visual effect.
While the Butterfly Pea Tea Latte introduces a unique flavor and visual experience, the world of lattes extends far beyond! At their core, lattes are espresso-based drinks combined with steamed milk and a layer of silky foam. This combination provides a canvas for endless flavor exploration, including:
- Classic Favorites: Start with the familiar comfort of vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut lattes, offering sweetness and warmth.
- Spiced Delights: Discover the cozy flavors of chai lattes, pumpkin spice lattes, or gingerbread lattes, perfect for warming up on chilly days.
- Matcha Magic: Matcha lattes offer a vibrant green hue, earthy flavour, and potential health benefits from the finely ground green tea powder.
- Floral Notes: Subtly floral lattes infused with lavender, rose, or other edible flowers provide a delicate and unique flavor profile.
Butterfly Pea Tea Latte Recipe
Yields: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon dried butterfly pea flowers
- 1 cup (240ml) hot water (not boiling)
- 1 cup (240ml) milk (cow’s milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc.)
- Sweetener to taste (honey, maple syrup, sugar, etc.)
- Optional: A squeeze of lemon juice (best for plant based milks, cow’s milk may curdle)
Equipment:
- Mug
- Milk frother or whisk
Instructions
- Make the Butterfly Pea Tea: In a mug, steep butterfly pea flowers in hot water for 5-10 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the blue and flavor. Strain out the flowers.
- Froth the Milk: Heat and froth your milk using a frother, by whisking vigorously, or simply by warming it gently on the stovetop.
- Combine: Pour the frothed milk over the butterfly pea infusion. Sweeten to your liking with honey, maple syrup, or your preferred sweetener.
- Optional: Color Change Fun! For a magical color transformation, add a squeeze of lemon juice and watch your latte shift from blue to shades of purple or pink! Note, only do this for plant based milk. If you do this to cow’s milk, it may curdle.
Tips:
- Make Ahead: Prepare a larger batch of the butterfly pea tea concentrate and store it in the refrigerator for quick iced lattes throughout the week.
- Sweetener Switch: Try simple syrup for easy blending into cold drinks.
- Experiment: Play around with different milk options and flavor additions to find your perfect Butterfly Pea Tea Latte! Add ice to turn it into a cooling delight.
