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Vibrant butterfly pea lemonade in a tall glass, transitioning from blue to purple and yellow, garnished with fresh lemongrass and ginger slices for an herbal twist.

Magic Butterfly Pea Lemonade

Rebecca Blumer
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!
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Drink, Mocktail
Cuisine Southeast Asian, Thai
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 138 kcal

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".

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 0.2gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 33gVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword color-changing lemonade, magic lemonade, party drink, summer drink
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