Iced Blue Butterfly Pea Recipe
Make Iced Blue Butterfly Pea Recipe in just 35m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Blue Butterfly Pea Concentrate
Coffee Component
Assembly & Garnish
Method
Blue Butterfly Pea Concentrate
- 1
Steep the flowers
Place 2 tablespoons dried butterfly pea flowers into a heatproof container. Pour 300 ml near-boiling water over the flowers. Stir once, cover, and steep for 8–10 minutes until the liquid is deep blue.
- 2
Strain
Strain the infusion through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter into a clean container to remove petals. You should have approximately 250–270 ml of blue concentrate.
- 3
Sweeten and adjust
While the concentrate is still warm, stir in 30 ml simple syrup (or honey syrup) until dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness. If you plan to add lemon for the color-changing effect, reserve 15 ml lemon juice to add at the end of assembly rather than into the hot concentrate (adding lemon now will turn it purple immediately). Chill the concentrate in the fridge or an ice bath until cold (about 15–20 minutes).
Coffee Component
- 4
Prepare espresso or cold brew
Brew 60 ml espresso (about a double shot) or use 60 ml of strong cold brew. If using hot espresso, allow it to cool to room temperature, then chill briefly so it won't melt the ice excessively. If desired, dilute with 60 ml cold water or milk to soften intensity and reach balance.
Assembly & Garnish
- 5
Assemble the drink
Fill a tall glass with 1 cup of ice. Pour 120–150 ml chilled butterfly pea concentrate over the ice (adjust to desired color intensity). Carefully pour the 60 ml chilled espresso or cold brew over the back of a spoon or slowly down the side of the glass to create a layered effect — coffee will rest as a darker layer above or partially mingle with the blue.
- 6
Optional effervescence
If using tonic or soda, top with 60 ml tonic water or soda for a sparkling finish. This may slightly lighten the color and add complexity.
- 7
Color change (optional)
To create a color-shifting element at the table, serve the reserved 15 ml lemon juice on the side in a small shot glass. Pouring the lemon into the blue concentrate will lower pH and change the blue to purple/pink hues.
- 8