Butterfly Pea Flower Tea with Lemon and Honey

Why people make this tea

Butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) has been used for centuries in Southeast Asian and Ayurvedic wellness traditions, and it has recently gained widespread attention in the West — partly for its extraordinary colour-changing property (the deep blue tea turns vivid purple the moment you add anything acidic, like lemon juice), and partly for its genuine nutritional value. The flowers are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, and contain a class of potent antioxidants called anthocyanins — the same compounds that make blueberries, red cabbage, and red wine healthful. Butterfly pea flower is associated with supporting memory and cognitive function, calming anxiety and mild depression, and acting as a natural stomach soother. The colour transformation when you add lemon juice is a wonderful conversation starter and makes this tea a delight to prepare and share.