Turn your daily latte into a little bit of magic! This blue butterfly pea latte is beautiful, and it’s ready in just 10 minutes. Made with four simple ingredients, it’s a plant-based pick-me-up you can enjoy any time of day.
What is Butterfly Pea Powder?
Butterfly pea flower (clitoria ternatea), also called Asian pigeon wing or blue matcha, has been grown for centuries in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand and Malaysia. Its vibrant blue petals are typically dried and brewed into herbal tea that’s naturally caffeine-free.
When you grind the dried butterfly pea flowers into a fine powder, it is a playful addition to recipes thanks to its color-changing magic. Depending on the liquid’s pH, the blue tea can shift from deep blue to pink or purple with just a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Stir it into drinks like lemonade, cocktails, mocktails, or lattes, or mix it into cakes, cupcakes, pancake or waffle batter, and smoothies for a beautiful blue color. Use it in place of food coloring to make blue pancakes for a festive touch on your Fourth of July breakfast spread.
Key Ingredients
- Butterfly Pea Powder: Butterfly pea powder not only gives the butterfly pea latte its gorgeous color, but it also offers potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, according to the National Library of Medicine.
- Water: Steep the dried flowers in boiling water, or use a mild tea like ginger, chamomile, or white tea as the base. If using butterfly pea powder, simply whisk it into hot water or brewed tea before mixing it into the latte, similar to matcha powder.
- Milk: Choose your favorite milk—whole milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or unsweetened almond milk. After testing a few options, I love how the creaminess of the oat milk enhances the earthy flavor of the butterfly pea powder.
- Sweetener: A touch of honey and vanilla extract rounds out the flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.
Additions and Substitutions
- Sweeten things up. Swap the honey for maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar-free option like monk fruit. You can also try flavored syrups, such as vanilla syrup, blueberry simple syrup, honey lavender simple syrup, or cardamom simple syrup for additional flavor.
- Add a little spice. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon, chai spice, ground ginger, or cardamom powder for a cozy, warm flavor.
Equipment
- Small Bowl: Sift the powder in a small bowl. Nothing fancy, just a bowl with a lip, so the powder doesn’t end up all over you.
- Whisk: Break up the powder and mix it into the hot water using a regular whisk or a bamboo whisk called a chasten.
How to Make a Butterfly Pea Latte
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Hot Latte
Step 1: Whisk the butterfly pea powder in a small bowl or mug using a regular whisk or bamboo whisk to break up any clumps.
Step 2: Warm 2 ounces of water or herbal tea to about 190℉ (88℃) and pour it over the sifted powder. Add honey and vanilla extract, and stir until the powder dissolves.
Step 3: Steam and froth the milk, or heat it separately on the stovetop or in the microwave and froth with a whisk or handheld milk frother.
Step 4: Pour the frothed milk over the butterfly pea mixture. For a classic latte finish, hold back the foam with a spoon, then spoon a dollop of froth on top and serve immediately.
Iced Latte
Step 1: Whisk the butterfly pea powder in a small bowl or mug using a regular whisk or bamboo whisk to break up any clumps.
Step 2: Warm 2 ounces of water or herbal tea to about 190℉ (88℃) and pour it over the sifted powder. Add honey and vanilla extract, and stir until the powder dissolves.
Step 3: Pour milk into a glass, then top with the butterfly pea mixture. Add a scoop of ice and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Prepare the powder. Whisk the butterfly pea powder before mixing it into hot water or herbal tea to break up any clumps. The ideal water temperature is 190℉ (88℃) for the best results, but don’t worry about getting it just right.
- Adjust the ratio. A traditional latte is one part tea or espresso to two parts milk, but you can adjust the amount of butterfly pea powder to taste.
- Choose your milk wisely. Whole milk creates the creamiest latte, while oat milk is a great dairy-free alternative. Almond and soy milk also froth well.
- Froth the milk. (For hot lattes) Warm the milk and froth with a handheld frother, steam wand, French press, automatic frother, or whisk until foamy.
- Order matters. Begin by mixing the butterfly pea powder into hot water or tea, then add any flavored syrups, sweeteners, or ground spices. Combine the mixture with steamed or chilled milk, depending on your preference.
- Brew dried butterfly petals. For those using dried petals, warm water or tea in a small saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 190℉ (88℃). Gather the petals in a mesh tea strainer or cheesecloth and add them to the hot water. Simmer for 5 to 15 minutes over low heat, depending on the strength of flavor you prefer.
If you enjoy a butterfly pea latte, try one of these drink recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does butterfly pea latte taste like?
Butterfly pea powder has a very mild, slightly earthy flavor on its own, but takes on the flavor of whatever you pair it with. When you combine the powder with milk (plant-based milk) or a mild tea and your favorite sweetener, the latte takes on a soothing, sweet, and slightly floral taste.
Where can you buy butterfly pea flower powder?
You can find butterfly pea flower powder at health food stores, local tea shops, and online retailers. Some grocery stores with a good selection of international products may also have it.
Butterfly Pea Latte
- Small Bowl
- 1 teaspoon butterfly pea powder
- 2 ounces water or herbal tea
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
- Whisk the butterfly pea powder in a small bowl or mug using a regular whisk or bamboo whisk to break up any clumps.
- Warm 2 ounces of water or herbal tea to about 190℉ (88℃) and pour it over the sifted powder. Add honey and vanilla extract, and stir until the powder dissolves.
- Steam and froth the milk, or heat it separately on the stovetop or in the microwave and froth with a whisk or handheld milk frother.
- Pour the frothed milk over the butterfly pea mixture. For a classic latte finish, hold back the foam with a spoon, then spoon a dollop of froth on top and serve immediately.
- Whisk the butterfly pea powder in a small bowl or mug using a regular whisk or bamboo whisk to break up any clumps.
- Warm 2 ounces of water or herbal tea to about 190℉ (88℃) and pour it over the sifted powder. Add honey and vanilla extract, and stir until the powder dissolves.
- Pour milk into a glass, then top with the butterfly pea mixture. Add a scoop of ice and enjoy!
- Prepare the powder. Whisk the butterfly pea powder before mixing it into hot water or herbal tea to break up any clumps. The ideal water temperature is 190℉ (88℃) for the best results, but don’t worry about getting it just right.
- Adjust the ratio. A traditional latte is one part tea or espresso to two parts milk, but you can adjust the amount of butterfly pea powder to taste.
- Choose your milk wisely. Whole milk creates the creamiest latte, while oat milk is a great dairy-free alternative. Almond and soy milk also froth well.
- Froth the milk. (For hot lattes) Warm the milk and froth with a handheld frother, steam wand, French press, automatic frother, or whisk until foamy.
- Order matters. Begin by mixing the butterfly pea powder into hot water or tea, then add any flavored syrups, sweeteners, or ground spices. Combine the mixture with steamed or chilled milk, depending on your preference.
- Brew dried butterfly petals. For those using dried petals, warm water or tea in a small saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 190℉ (88℃). Gather the petals in a mesh tea strainer or cheesecloth and add them to the hot water. Simmer for 5 to 15 minutes over low heat, depending on the strength of flavor you prefer.