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Home » Posts » Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup Recipe for Tea, Cocktails, and More!

November 8, 2021 by Courtney | Updated: March 4, 2024 |

Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup Recipe for Tea, Cocktails, and More!

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Butterfly pea flower simple syrup recipe is a bright, beautiful, and bold blue-colored sweetener that is a perfect addition to your favorite drinks! It can be used to sweeten and add color to tea, lemonade, and cocktails! This naturally colored syrup is made from dried butterfly pea flowers and can be a bright blue or changed to purple if citrus is added.

butterfly pea flower simple syrup

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

I don’t know about you, but I think the butterfly pea flower is the most well-hidden secret. This amazing flower is absolutely beautiful as part of your landscape, but what most people don’t know is that it can be used for much more than just lawn decoration! It makes a beautiful, fun, and very nutritious tea or latte as well as this simple syrup recipe that I am going to share with you today. It is incredibly easy to make and its bright coloring is a show-stopper! Not only can it be a bright bold blue, but add a little lemon and watch the mixture turn purple! Some people also like to add a bit of hibiscus for deep pink coloring.

So you see, this little flower is incredible and there are so many ways to add it to your tea or favorite drink!

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • What is Butterfly Pea Flower?
  • Taste
  • Magical Color Change of Butterfly Pea Flowers
  • What is in Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup?
  • How to Make Butterfly Pea Syrup
  • Recipe Tips
  • How to Store
  • Using Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup
  • More Simple Syrup Recipes!
  • Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup Recipe

What is Butterfly Pea Flower?

The butterfly pea flower is a small vining blue flower native to Thailand. The scientific name is, Clitoria ternatea, but is also known by many other names including, Asian pigeon wings, blue pea, or butterfly pea. The butterfly pea flower is often used to make herbal tea and studies have shown it to be packed with positive health benefits as well. In general, it is said to contain an array of antioxidants and is very good for the health of your skin and hair.

butterfly pea flowers

Taste

The butterfly pea flower has a very earthy taste and as such this syrup although sweet, has a floral and earthy flavor to it.

Magical Color Change of Butterfly Pea Flowers

Butterfly pea flowers are often touted as magical, and they almost are! But there is a reasonable explanation for the color change. By adding acidity such as lemon it changes the PH levels of the tea which results in the color change.

  • Blue – This recipe will naturally be a bright and bold blue color.
  • Purple – To make purple, add a teaspoon of lemon juice or a small wedge of lemon to the cooking syrup.
  • Pink – Make it pink by adding a bit of hibiscus.

What is in Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup?

  • Butterfly Pea Flowers – I used these dried whole butterfly pea flowers for this recipe. They are relatively easy and economical to purchase.
  • Sugar – Regular granulated cane sugar is a good option for this recipe as it dissolves easily and quickly.
  • Water – Not to be overlooked, water is not typically noticed in a recipe unless it tastes bad. Use good water such as filtered or spring water.

How to Make Butterfly Pea Syrup

Butterfly Pea Syrup Recipe

Kitchen Tools

  • Saucepan
  • Wooden Stirring Spoon
  • Liquid Measuring Cup
  • Dry Measuring Cup
  • Tea Strainer

Ingredients

  • Dried Loose Leaf Butterfly Pea Flowers
  • Cane Sugar
  • Water

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan on the stovetop, add water and sugar.
  2. Stir together.
  3. Cook on low until sugar is fully dissolved, stirring occasionally. (this should only take a few minutes)
  4. Turn off the heat and add butterfly pea flowers.
  5. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  6. Strain out flowers.
  7. Pour into a storage container.
  8. Enjoy!
butterfly pea flower simple syrup

Recipe Tips

  • Heat just until the sugar fully dissolves.
  • Don’t forget to stir syrup.
  • Do watch the syrup as it cooks. While it is very unlikely to burn, it does dissolve the sugar and finishes quickly.
  • Strain out butterfly pea leaves using a tea strainer. I like to strain into a liquid measuring cup, and then pour the strained simple syrup right into my storage container.
  • Use whole dried flowers. Tea bags are not ideal for this recipe.

How to Store

This simple butterfly tea syrup is fairly simple to store. Pour prepared syrup into a container (I like this one!) with a lid and refrigerate for up to two weeks. Don’t forget to label and date. If the syrup begins to develop an off-color or smell rancid, discard it and make a new recipe.

Using Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup

There are almost endless options for this bold blue butterfly pea flower syrup. It can be added to lemonade, cocktails, lattes, or homemade soda. It can be used as natural food coloring for baked goods as well.

More Simple Syrup Recipes!

  • Rose Simple Syrup
  • Liquid Cane Sugar
  • Cinnamon Dolce Simple Syrup
  • Lavender Simple Syrup
  • Lavender Honey Syrup
  • Rosehip Syrup

I hope you enjoy this easy recipe. Leave a comment below and let’s connect! 

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butterfly pea flower simple syrup
butterfly pea flower simple syrup

Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup Recipe

Courtney
    Butterfly pea flower simple syrup is a bright, beautiful, and bold blue-colored sweetener that is a perfect addition to your favorite drinks! This naturally colored syrup is made from dried butterfly pea flowers and can be a bright blue or changed to purple if citrus is added.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 minute min
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Additional Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 11 minutes mins
Course Simple Syrup
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings
Calories 57 kcal

Equipment

  • Syrup Bottle
  • Organic Butterfly Pea Flower

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 Cup Dried Loose Leaf Butterfly Pea Flowers
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 1 Cup Sugar

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan on the stovetop, add water and sugar.
  • Stir together.
  • Cook on low until sugar is fully dissolved, stirring occasionally. (this should only take a few minutes)
  • Turn off heat and add in butterfly pea flowers.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Strain out flowers.
  • Pour into a storage container.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Heat just until sugar fully dissolves.
  • Don't forget to stir syrup.
  • Do watch the syrup as it cooks. While it is very unlikely to burn, it does dissolve the sugar and finishes quickly.
  • Strain out butterfly pea leaves using a tea strainer. I like to strain into a liquid measuring cup, and then pour the strained simple syrup right into my storage container.
  • Use whole dried flowers. Tea bags are not ideal for this recipe.
  • This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only.

    Keyword butterfly pea flower, simple syrup

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nadalie says

      November 8, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      OMG, this looks so refreshing! I actually have some butterfly pea flower tea I completely forgot about.

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        November 8, 2021 at 3:59 pm

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Carissa Weber says

      November 8, 2021 at 6:58 pm

      sounds so yummy!

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        November 8, 2021 at 9:50 pm

        Thank you! My favorite part is the beautiful natural color!

        Reply
    3. Catherine Brooks says

      November 10, 2021 at 8:18 am

      I have never seen this before but it looks amazing and I learned something new! It sounds delicious but also looks like a work of art! The colors are beautiful.

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        November 10, 2021 at 12:34 pm

        I can’t get over the beautiful color either! Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Emily says

      November 10, 2021 at 8:23 am

      Wow this looks yummy AND beautiful! I’m definitely going to be trying this out at home!

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        November 10, 2021 at 12:34 pm

        I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Reut shaviro says

      November 12, 2021 at 9:23 am

      nIce post 🙂

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        November 12, 2021 at 12:57 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    6. Stephanie says

      June 23, 2022 at 10:21 am

      I never thought I can use dried butterfly pea flowers as coloring… This is awesome!

      Reply
    7. Suzanne says

      January 31, 2023 at 8:39 pm

      This looks so good! What a great gift to make for friends or to enjoy yourself!

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        February 1, 2023 at 8:13 am

        Yes! It does make a great gift!

        Reply
    8. Vanessa says

      January 31, 2023 at 8:40 pm

      Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        February 1, 2023 at 8:12 am

        It can keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

        Reply
    9. Ann says

      February 19, 2024 at 11:53 pm

      Never thought of using butterfly pea in simple syrup! Usually adding acid is what makes it change colours. I noticed yours is a different colour at the top- is that just a coincidence or did you add something to give it that ombre effect?

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        February 20, 2024 at 7:57 am

        I think the top was exposed to some citrus.

        Reply
    10. Elizabeth Johnson says

      March 16, 2024 at 4:11 pm

      Can I use butterfly pea flower powder no don’t have the flowers only the powder. And what’s the ratio for that if I can use it

      Reply
      • Courtney says

        March 16, 2024 at 4:30 pm

        Yes, you can use butterfly pea flower powder, or blue matcha as it is sometimes called. I would use 1-2 teaspoons. Enjoy!

        Reply

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    MEET THE AUTHOR, COURTNEY

    Tea has been part of the fabric of humankind since time immemorial and with each variation of tea, there is a memory and experience to enjoy with every sip. For me, it was my grandmother who first taught me to love tea: this blog is dedicated to her. She was and always will be my inspiration! Read More…

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