Magic Butterfly Pea Lemonade
Experience a magical transformation with this stunning butterfly pea lemonade. A deep blue, aromatic syrup changes to a vibrant pink right before your eyes when mixed with fresh lemon juice. Simple, natural, and incredibly fun!
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Fine-Mesh Sieve
- Heatproof jar or bowl
- Serving glasses
Ingredients
- 5 cups filtered water divided
- 1 cup granulated sugar or to taste
- ½ cup dried butterfly pea flowers
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice from 8-10 lemons
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine 3 cups of filtered water, granulated sugar, and dried butterfly pea flowers. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it, and let the flowers steep for 10 minutes to infuse the syrup with a deep blue color.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof jar, gently pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid. Discard the flowers and set the syrup aside to cool to room temperature.
- In a separate pitcher or jar, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice with the remaining 2 cups of water and stir well.
- To serve, fill tall glasses completely with ice. Pour the cooled blue butterfly pea syrup into each glass until about half full.
- Slowly pour the lemon water mixture over the top of the blue syrup to create a layered effect. Watch the color magically change from blue to vibrant pink! Stir gently to combine before enjoying.
Notes
Pro Tip: For the best, most vibrant blue color, use filtered or bottled water. High-pH tap water can sometimes give the tea a greenish tint.
Flavor Twist: The article suggests infusing the syrup with a stalk of bruised lemongrass and a few slices of muddled ginger for a more aromatic flavor. Add them in step 1 with the flowers.
Cocktail Version: Add 1.5 oz of gin or vodka to each glass before the syrup for a "Magic Gin Fizz".