Fancy yourself a latte every now and then? Here's a latte that's blue and definitely good for you.
This recipe is dedicated to coffee-lovers who are trying to cut back on their caffeine intake. What makes this latte different is that instead of being made from coffee beans, it's made from genuine tea flowers. No, it's not exactly the same as a coffee latte—but it's definitely more pleasing to the eyes and a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.
If you're wondering what makes this latte blue, it's the magic of the Blue Butterfly Pea Flowers. The Blue Butterfly Pea Flowers are known to be long used for medicinal purposes but it also makes a good tea. Now, it also makes a good latte! Plus, it provides benefits and doesn't come with any side effects that a caffeinated drink would normally cause.
So, what are you waiting for? Let's go make this magical dried Butterfly Pea Flower Latte!
What are Blue Butterfly Pea Flowers?
The Blue Butterfly Pea is a type of flowering plant that is known for its beautiful blue color and its ability to provide health benefits. Many countries all over the world make use of dried Butterfly Pea Flowers to brew their tea which, if you add it with a tinge of lemon juice, turns its color from blue to a majestic magenta. Frankly, its color changing ability is what makes it so popular among tea-drinkers. It's perfect to serve in social gatherings, especially when you're using a glass teapot.
But the Blue Butterfly Pea Flowers exceeded expectations by proving its use for other things. It's also used as a natural color dye and even as an ingredient in alcoholic drinks and beauty products.
What are the Butterfly Pea Latte benefits?
As time passes by, more people are becoming more health-conscious, which is a good thing! Taking care of our health is important but there are ways to do it while still enjoying life. This butterfly pea latte recipe is proof of that.
Here are the must-know benefits of the butterfly pea flower:
1. Improves digestion
Drinking this blue latte will help smoothen your digestive system. Since the dried butterfly pea flower is filled with antioxidants, it will help your stomach get rid of toxins and will improve the flow of your digestive system. This is particularly helpful if you're experiencing diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or other digestive issues.
2. Aids in weight loss
If only losing weight was as easy as A-B-C, am I right? Weight loss can be quite challenging for some but fortunately drinking this butterfly pea latte might help! The blue butterfly pea tea (which is used for the latte) is not just free of caffeine, it also has zero fats, carbs, and cholesterol! If you're going on a diet, drinking this blue latte might help out by clearing your gut of any food wastes and regulating your appetite.
3. Improves skin and hair health
The Blue Butterfly Pea Flower is no stranger to beauty and wellness products. It contains flavonoids which help stimulate collagen production, helping maintain skin elasticity. It also has a compound called anthocyanin which increases the blood circulation in the head and therefore helps maintain a healthy scalp. So if you want to have a more beautiful skin and hair, you might want to drink this Butterfly Pea Latte.
4. Uplifts mood
We sometimes drink something to calm our nerves down. In this case, it's true and effective! The Butterfly Pea Tea contains properties that make it a good mood-enhancer. It may help in reducing stress levels and the risk of anxiety. This is perfect for workaholic people or those who often experience negative emotions. Remember, feeling too much stress might lead to worse health conditions.
What does the Butterfly Pea Latte taste like?
Unfortunately, this latte doesn’t taste exactly like coffee. In fact, the Butterfly Pea Tea does not really have a burst of flavors by itself. However, by adding the right ingredients to it, its taste can be turned into something more appealing to the tastebuds.
Also, drinking this Butterfly Pea Latte will instantly give you a soothing feeling. Its taste may remind you a little bit of green tea. It's mild, light, delicate, and floral—just like a gentle touch instead of an explosion of fireworks. If you get what we mean.
Butterfly Pea Latte Recipe
Now that you know the Butterfly Pea Latte benefits, it's time to make the actual drink! This is an easy recipe that you can easily make anytime you want to. This way, you have no trouble making it for when you have visitors suddenly come over or if you just want to enjoy a tasty drink while enjoying a peaceful evening alone.
Butterfly Pea Latte ingredients
- Dried Butterfly Pea Flowers (you can use blue butterfly pea flower powder as well)
- Cashew Milk (or any plant-based milk)
- Maple Syrup
- Vanilla Extract
You will also be needing the following equipment to make the latte:
- Small saucepan
- Sieve
- Whisk
- Milk frother
How to make the Butterfly Pea Latte
- To start, you must make the Butterfly Pea Tea first. Heat some water and then pour it into a teapot after it boils. Then, add the dried Butterfly Pea Flowers. Allow it to steep for at least 5 minutes (oversteeping it might cause the taste to be bitter). Strain the tea.
- Now, heat the cashew milk (or any plant-based milk that you have) using the small saucepan on medium heat. Then, carefully sift the Butterfly Pea Tea into the milk using the sieve. Add the maple syrup and the vanilla extract as well.
- Whisk the mixture thoroughly. Some of us prefer to whisk it in a vigorous manner, but just be careful not to spill some of it. Also, don't let it boil. We only need to heat it until it's warm enough.
- Once you've removed it from heat, use the milk frother to produce the extra froth.
- That's it! Now you may serve and enjoy it.