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    Decorated Treats » Recipes » Beverage Recipes

    Butterfly Pea Lemonade (Magic Purple Lemonade)

    Published: Jul 18, 2022 · Modified: Aug 18, 2023 by Priya Maha

    Jump to Recipe

    This butterfly pea lemonade (also known as magic purple lemonade) is an all natural lemonade with a magical purple color.

    It brings together the striking blue tones of butterfly pea flowers extract and the tangy kick of fresh lemons into a visually appealing purple toned delicious lemonade drink, perfect for sunny afternoons, special gatherings or any occasion where you want a flavorful twist.

    2 tall glasses of butterfly pea lemonade.
    Magic Butterfly Lemonade Made With Blue Butterfly Pea Flowers

    The star ingredient in this recipe is butterfly pea flowers. The natural blue extract of these pretty blue pea flowers turn into an equally lovely, natural purple hue when mixed with acidic substance and hence the magical purple color of this butterfly pea tea lemonade.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why you will love this recipe
    • ❓What is butterfly pea flower?
    • 📋Ingredients
    • 🧾Substitution and Variations
    • 👩‍🍳How to Make
    • 🍽️Serving & storage
    • 💡Expert Tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • ❤️More Recipes You Will Love
    • 📖Recipe

    ❤️Why you will love this recipe

    • This butterfly pea lemonade is only requires 4 fairly simple ingredients - butterfly pea flowers, sugar, lemon juice and water.
    • Making it is also easy, and the as same as making regular lemonade. You start with a butterfly pea simple syrup which is then added lemon juice and water.
    • It is way better than store-bought lemonade and its high sugar content. You get to control the sugar content in your drink and use less sugar if you like.
    • This is a very pretty drink, and perfect for parties.
    • It is a very refreshing too, and makes a perfect drink for hot summer days.

    Like this magic lemonade recipe? Here are my other posts you might want to check out:

    • Butterfly Pea Syrup - Easy Homemade Simple Syrup
    • Lemonade Recipe - 3 Easy Methods
    • Brown Sugar Lemonade - Flavorful and Refreshing
    • Pretty in Pink Blueberry Lemonade
    • Butterfly Pea Flower Drink
    • Butterfly Pea Latte - Easy Blue Pea Flower Tea Latte

    ❓What is butterfly pea flower?

    • Butterfly pea plant (Clitoria Ternatea) native to Southeast Asia. It produces beautiful blue flowers known as butterfly pea flowers or blue pea flowers and are widely used as natural color in cooking in the region.
    • Butterfly pea flowers can be used in fresh flowers or dried flowers form and also in powder form (sometimes referred to as blue matcha). While fresh flowers may not be widely available, the dried and powder versions can be purchased in any Asian market or grocery store as well as online stores.
    • When steeped in hot water or boiling water, the flowers release a deep blue color extract and this butterfly pea tea is often consumed as a herbal tea. You can also make lattes like this blue matcha latte and milk teas with boba pearls like this butterfly pea milk tea with the flowers.
    • An interesting feature of the butterfly pea extract is its reaction to acidic pH levels. When mixed with lemon juice or lime juice, its color changes magically to a pretty purple tone (due to the acidic pH level of lemons and limes) which is what this butterfly pea lemonade is all about.

    📋Ingredients

    A pitcher of water, bowls of sugar and ice cubes, lemons and dried butterfly pea flowers in a cup against a marble background.
    Ingredients for the butterfly pea lemonade drink
    • Butterfly pea flowers - both fresh or dried butterfly pea flowers will work for this recipe.
    • Lemon juice - use fresh lemon juice from fresh lemons and strain the juice to remove any seeds before making the lemonade.
    • Sugar - use white sugar. Since butterfly pea flowers are sensitive to acidic pH levels, it is best to use white sugar to maintain the pretty purple hue of the drink. Both granulated sugar and coarse sugar will work for this recipe.
    • Water - used in 2 parts. The first part is to make the sugar syrup and the second part to mix the lemonade. For best results, use cold water (chilled drink water) for the second part.
    • Lemon slices - cut into half, these are optional, as garnish.
    • Ice cubes (optional)

    *Refer to the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and exact quantities. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale where applicable*

    🧾Substitution and Variations

    • Soda water, club soda or sparkling water can be used to substitute the cold water (the second part) to make a fizzy lemonade.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you do try, please let me know in the comments section below!

    👩‍🍳How to Make

    Preparing the butterfly pea syrup

    A poster of 6 images showing how to make butterfly pea tea.
    1. Measure the first part of water into a small saucepan. Turn on the heat to medium flame and bring the water to a boil.
    2. Once boiled, add the butterfly pea flowers. Turn off the heat.
    3. Cover the pot with a lid and let the flowers steep in the hot water for 3 minutes.
    4. Strain the butterfly pea tea to remove the flowers. Press the flowers to remove as much extract as possible and discard.
    5. Return the concentrated tea back to the stove. Add sugar and turn on the heat to low.
    6. Stir to dissolve the sugar. As soon as dissolved, turn of the heat.

    Making the butterfly pea lemonade

    A poster of 4 images showing how to make butterfly pea flower lemonade.
    1. Add the butterfly pea syrup into a glass pitcher.
    2. Top it with the second part of the water (chilled water).
    3. Add in the lemon juice. You will see the blue color change to purple like magic with the addition of lemon juice. Stir the lemonade mixture well.
    4. To serve add ice cubes to serving glasses. Pour the lemonade, garnish with lemon slices and enjoy!
    A tall glass of purple lemonade.
    Blue Pea Lemonade

    🍽️Serving & storage

    • This butterfly pea flower tea with lemon is best consumed within 4 to 5 days. Keep it chilled in the refrigerator and do not add ice cubes to it until it is served.
    • Adding ice cubes will result in the lemonade becoming diluted by the time it is served.

    💡Expert Tips

    • Before juicing the lemons, it helps to roll them on your kitchen counter with your palms by applying some pressure. This will soften the skin and loosen the pulp inside the fruit, making it easier to juice the fruits.
    • You can also juice the lemons and in advance and freeze the juice. For easy use, you can pre-measure the lemon juice and freeze in separate containers (like ice cube trays) so that all you need to do when you want to make the lemonade is pop a few lemon juice cubes into a glass, add the butterfly pea syrup and water and stir until the lemon juice cubes are dissolved.
    • You can also make the butterfly pea syrup in advance and keep it refrigerated.

    💭FAQs

    What does butterfly pea lemonade taste like?

    This magic purple colored butterfly pea lemon tea tastes just like regular lemonade. The color purple is actually the chemical reaction of the blue extract of butterfly pea flowers.

    The extract does not contribute to any changes in taste to the lemonade and is mostly used for this nutritional benefits and its lovely purple or lavender color.

    Can you replace white sugar with brown sugar in this lemonade recipe?

    Technically you can, and however, using brown sugar will alter the color of this purple lemonade as brown sugar then to make the lemonade brown.

    How to adjust the level of sweetness of the butterfly pea lemon tea?

    This butterfly pea flower lemon tea recipe makes lemonade that is not too sweet, and has a more sourish taste to it. If you prefer your drink to be sweeter, you can always add more sugar.

    To add sugar after mixing the lemonade, simply transfer out about a quarter cup of lemonade into a small saucepan. Add the extra sugar to it and heat it up over low flame. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

    Once the sugar is dissolved, pour the sweetened lemonade back into the pitcher and mix well.

    Can you use butterfly pea flower powder to make this drink?

    Yes, you can. For the recipe below, replace the dried flowers with about a quarter teaspoon of the flower powder. You can skip the steeping step in the recipe and mix the water, sugar and the powder together at once and boil them to make the butterfly pea syrup for the lemonade.

    ❤️More Recipes You Will Love

    • Blue butterfly pea syrup in a bottle.
      Butterfly Pea Syrup (Easy Homemade Recipe)
    • A tall glass of blue milk tea and brown sugar tapioca pearls.
      Butterfly Pea Milk Tea with Boba (Easy Bubble Tea)
    • Two glasses of butterfly pea latte.
      Butterfly Pea Latte (Blue Matcha Latte)
    • A glass of blue butterfly pea tea.
      Butterfly Pea Flower Drink (Easy Blue Pea Tea Recipe)

    Do you like this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below and consider a review further down this page. I would love to hear from you. Thank you!

    📖Recipe

    2 tall glasses of butterfly pea lemonade.

    Butterfly Pea Lemonade

    This purple butterfly pea lemonade is an all natural drink. Served iced, this refreshing flower tea with lemon is perfect treat on a hot day.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Asian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Yield: 1800 ml
    Author: Priya Maha
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Metric - US Customary

    For best results, use the metrics measurements. US customary measurements have not been tested and are only meant for guide.

    Ingredients

    • 150 ml lemon juice (strained) (juice from approximately 2 lemons)
    • 200 g white sugar
    • 200 ml water (at room temperature)
    • 1300 ml water (chilled)
    • 25 butterfly pea flowers (fresh or dried)
    • Lemon slices (for garnish, optional)
    • Ice cubes (optional)
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Add 200ml room temperature water into a small saucepan.
    • Turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil.
    • Turn off the heat and add in the butterfly pea flowers.
    • Cover the pot with a lid and let the butterfly pea flowers steep in the hot water for 3 minutes.
    • Take off the lid and strain the water. Press the flowers with the back of a spoon to remove as much butterfly pea flower extract as possible. Discard the flowers.
    • Pour the strained tea back into the saucepan.
    • Add sugar and turn on the heat to low.
    • Stir occasionally until the sugar is all dissolved.
    • Bring the butterfly pea syrup to a boil and turn of the heat.
    • Pour the syrup into a pitcher or jug.
    • Top it with the remaining 1300ml cold or chilled water.
    • Next, add the lemon juice. The butterfly pea flower juice will turn purple as soon as you add lemon juice to it.
    • Stir the lemonade. Keep it refrigerated until ready to be served.
    • To serve the butterfly pea lemonade, add ice cubes into a drinking glass and pour the lemonade. Garnish with the lemon slices.

    Notes

    • Before juicing the lemons, it helps to roll them on your kitchen counter with your palms by applying some pressure. This will soften the skin and loosen the pulp inside the fruit, making it easier to juice the fruits.
    • You can also juice the lemons and in advance and freeze the juice. For easy use, you can pre-measure the lemon juice and freeze in separate containers (like ice cube trays) so that all you need to do when you want to make the lemonade is pop a few lemon juice cubes into a glass, add the butterfly pea syrup and water and stir until the lemon juice cubes are dissolved.
    • You can also make the butterfly pea syrup in advance and keep it refrigerated.
     

    Do a test taste after mixing the lemonade

    • If it is not sweet enough, pour out some into a small pot, add some more sugar and heat it up on low heat. As soon as the sugar is dissolved, turn off the heat and mix the sweetened lemonade into the remaining lemonade. Mix well and serve.
    • If you find the lemon taste not sufficient, add more lemon juice in increments of 1 tablespoon. Mix well after each addition and do a test taste to make sure you do not over-add lemon juice.
     

    Variation:

    • Soda water, club soda or sparkling water can be used to substitute the cold water (the second part) to make a fizzy lemonade.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 804kcal | Carbohydrates: 209.9g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 78.5mg | Potassium: 163.3mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 203.5g | Vitamin A: 9.3IU | Vitamin C: 59.9mg | Calcium: 56.3mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @decorated_treats or tag #decoratedtreats!

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    2 tall glasses of butterfly pea lemonade.

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