Looking for a soothing and delicious way to start your day? Try this Vegan Butterfly Pea Flower Latte! It is a great alternative to coffee like this Vegan Pandan Latte, and it's also perfect for unwinding later in the day. So why not treat yourself to this caffeine-free latte with a beautiful blue color?
I'm thrilled to introduce this Butterfly Pea Latte, a plant-based delight made with four simple ingredients. This latte is an easy way to add the brilliance of both flavor and color to your day. This fragrant flower has been used in traditional Southeast Asian dishes for centuries because of its soothing properties. Another blue drink you're sure to enjoy is this refreshing Blue Lagoon Mocktail.
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When combined with creamy cashew milk and sweetened naturally with maple syrup, this special tea will become an instant favorite, as comforting as a hug! Ready your mugs, friends-this latte is too good not to try.
This Vegan Butterfly pea flower tea latte is my favorite way to start the day. It's a beautiful bright blue with a lovely floral yet earthy taste you can't get from any other tea. I first saw this drink on Instagram and have wanted to make it ever since!
This vegan Butterfly Pea Flower Latte is perfect for when you are looking for something soothing or if you want to relax before bed. This easy-to-make latte gets its creaminess from plant-based milk and its lovely blue hue from butterfly pea flowers - no artificial coloring in the blue milk!
Another drink to try is this caffeine-free Pandan Latte or vegan Mushroom Latte to level up your morning cup of coffee! You're sure to enjoy it with these Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
What Is Butterfly Pea Flower?
The butterfly pea flower plant, known as clitoria ternatea and also known as Asian pigeon wing, has been cultivated for a long time in the tropical equatorial region of Southeast Asia. Its flowers are a stunning blue color, and the petals have flecks of white and yellow.
The butterfly pea flower powder is derived from dried butterfly pea flowers. It is entirely plant-based, vegan, caffeine-free, and free of artificial coloring.
What Are the Health Benefits of Butterfly Pea Flower?
- Butterfly pea flowers are said to have been used as an analgesic and to aid insomnia, as well as for beauty purposes.
- The blue color of the flowers comes from anthocyanins, which are water-soluble compounds that occur naturally in some black, blue, purple, and red plants.
- The flowers also contain powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants protect against the damaging effects of free radicals, protecting against premature aging.
- In Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, butterfly pea flowers are used for natural food coloring in rice dishes and in teas.
- When the flowers are added to hot water, the water will turn an incredible shade of blue or violet. When mixed with lemon or lime, which have acidity, the liquid turns a beautiful shade of pink.
Ingredients
These are the four ingredients you need to make this soothing latte recipe. The fifth ingredient, rose petals or rose buds, is optional.
- Cashew milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk - use the plant milk of your choice.
- Blue butterfly pea flower powder - also known as blue matcha- is dried and crushed butterfly pea flower petals that are ground into a fine powder. The benefit of using the powder is that you don't have to brew it first.
- Maple syrup to add sweetness (start with one teaspoon).
- Vanilla extract for additional flavor.
- Culinary dried rose petals or dried rose buds- optional for the prettiest garnish.
- Rose water - optional; this is a lovely addition for a light floral flavor (not pictured).
A complete ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
- Blue pea flower powder - use dried butterfly pea flowers instead to make an herbal tea or latte. Make hot tea with one tablespoon of dried flowers with a cup of hot water. Let steep for 5 minutes. Add your favorite sweetener and lemon juice or lime juice for flavor and to see the color-changing properties. Note this will change the color of the drink due to the acidity. To make a latte, add hot steamed plant-based milk.
- Flavor - add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger for a touch of warmth. Or add matcha powder for a subtle grassy taste.
- Lavender simple syrup instead of maple syrup.
- Maple syrup - use coconut sugar or brown sugar. Or stir in vegan sweetened condensed milk.
- Rose simple syrup instead of maple syrup for even more lovely, delicate floral flavor; start with a teaspoon and adjust to taste.
- You can make cold drinks as well. If you want an iced blue latte, add ice and maybe a squeeze of lemon for extra flavor.
- If you have an espresso machine, you can add freshly brewed espresso to this latte for a caffeinated beverage, like I did in this Vegan Mushroom Latte.
How to Make a Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Latte
It only takes about ten minutes to make this warm and cozy drink. A battery-operated milk frother comes in very handy to create the froth. Here are the steps to make this caffeine-free latte:
- Step 1: Place butterfly pea flower powder in a small bowl. Add hot water and whisk until it the powder dissolves. Set aside.
- Step 2: In a medium saucepan, heat cashew milk or the plant-based milk of your choice on medium heat until starting to steam, stirring occasionally
- Step 3: Whisk in butterfly pea flower mixture with maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Step 4: Take off the heat, and aerate with milk frother for 30 seconds if desired.
Expert Tips
- Keep an eye on your saucepan because the mixture can suddenly foam up when overheated and overflowing.
- Mix the butterfly pea flower powder with 1 to 2 tablespoons of hot water before adding it to the hot milk.
- Step 5: Pour into a cup and garnish with rose petals if desired. Enjoy!
How Does This Vegan Butterfly Pea Flower Latte Taste?
This dairy-free creamy blue latte with dried blue pea flowers is soothing, and the taste reminds me of the flavor of green tea. It is lovely, mild, delicate, and floral, with a slightly earthy and woody flavor. If you like stronger flavors, add ginger, cinnamon, or cardamom.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can steep a tablespoon of the butterfly pea flowers in hot water for a few minutes, strain it, and add steamed and frothed plant-based milk, sweetener, and the rest of the ingredients. You can also steep the butterfly pea flowers in hot plant-based milk and remove them before adding the other ingredients. Let me know how it turns out!
Yes, you can make an herbal tea with the butterfly pea flowers; add lemon or simple syrup to taste; otherwise, the flavor is earthy and woody. To make herbal tea, steep the 1 to 2 teaspoons of butterfly pea flowers in filtered hot water for 5 minutes and then remove the flowers. You can drink this tea by itself (add sliced lemon or lemon juice to make the drink purple) or add it to cold lemon water for a refreshing beverage; just use less water to make the tea. You can also make iced herbal tea, sweeten it with simple syrup or another liquid sweetener like agave syrup or maple syrup.
Related Vegan Drink Recipes
If you try this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
How to Make a Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Latte
INGREDIENTS
- ½ teaspoon blue butterfly pea flower powder
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- 8 oz cashew milk or other plant-based milk like almond milk or oat milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or rose simple syrup (start with one teaspoon) or lavender simple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon organic dried rose petals optional, or dried organic rose buds
- 2 teaspoons rose water optional
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place butterfly pea powder in a small bowl. Add hot water and whisk until it the powder dissolves. Set aside.½ teaspoon blue butterfly pea flower powder, 1 tablespoon hot water
- Heat cashew milk on medium heat until starting to steam.8 oz cashew milk
- Whisk in butterfly pea flower mixture with maple syrup and vanilla extract. Add rose water if using.1 tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons rose water
- Take off the heat, and aerate with milk frother for 30 seconds if desired. Pour into cup and garnish with rose petals if desired. Enjoy!1 teaspoon organic dried rose petals
NOTES
NUTRITION
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
Melissa says
If I am making this iced, do I skip the heating mill and syrups portion? Or do I still heat and then add ice to the cup?
Emily Miller says
Hi Melissa, if you're making this iced. you skip the heating portion of the milk and the syrups. Just add them chilled and add ice to cup. If you're making this with the butterfly pea powder, I recommend using hot water so that it will mix up better. Then let it cool to make this iced.
Mary says
My new obsession, thank you for this great recipe!
Emily Miller says
Thank you, Mary, I'm glad you enjoy it!
Kathleen says
I posted a comment but did find the answer in rereading the recipe and notes! I made a delicious tea last night and am having another this morning with a shot of espresso! I can't wait to make this with my granddaughter for a nice sleepytime drink before bed!
Emily Miller says
HI Kathleen, I just found your comment and replied to it, thank you for trying this recipe!
Kathleen says
I accidently bought the butterfly pea flowers...I am steaming them in oatmilk to try and make a latte.
I'll let you know how it turns out, but how would you do this using the pea flower?
Emily Miller says
Hi Kathleen, you can steep a tablespoon of the butterfly pea flowers in hot water for a few minutes, strain it, and add the steamed milk, sweetener, and rest of the ingredients. Alternatively, you can steep the butterfly pea flowers in hot oat milk and remove them before adding the other ingredients. Let me know how it turns out!
Olivia says
My new favorite drink for when I’m studying. Not too sweet, just perfect and cozy! Especially with fall around the corner, I will be making this drink for the next couple of months ! Thank you!
Emily Miller says
Thanks so much, Olivia! I'm so glad you enjoy this blue butterfly pea flower latte!
Penelope says
Outstanding!
Emily Miller says
Thank you for your kind words, Penelope!
Nancy says
Such a pretty latte. It makes for a great beverage, especially when I was hosting brunch this past weekend. Everyone thought it was so lovely.
Emily says
Thank you so much for your review, Nancy! I appreciate you taking the time to share this feedback!
Stephanie says
I enjoy trying unique drinks to serve when my gal pals come over for an afternoon of chatting. When I saw this Butterfly Pea Flower drink recipe, I had to try it. We all enjoyed the taste and visual appeal.
Emily says
Stephanie, thank you for the five-star review! I'm so happy you and your friends enjoyed the Butterfly Pea Flower drink recipe.
Cynthia says
I love this latte! I’m not a coffee drinker so this is a perfect morning drink. I usually drink matcha lattes. I tried mixing both. Delicious too.
Emily says
Thank you for your review and kind words, Cynthia. I'm delighted to hear that mixing matcha with this latte worked out nicely as well - it sounds like an amazing combination! Thank you for taking the time to leave us this review!
Erica says
Yum! So delicious.
Emily says
Thank you so much!
Nancy says
This is SO pretty! I could drink this all day!
Emily says
Thank you so much, Nancy! It's a favorite!
Lucy says
Wow, how beautiful does this look! I've never heard of butterfly pea flower powder before, thank you for introducing me to it. I avoid caffeine altogether so can't wait to try this, it sounds like such a great alternative!
Emily says
Thank you so much for the review Lucy. I'm so glad to introduce you to butterfly pea flower powder, I hope you give it a try!
Pattie says
Looks so dreamy! Question: I was given "whole" butterfly pea flowers. Is there a way to use it instead of the powder?
Emily says
Hi Pattie, Thank you for your review and question! You can make an herbal tea with the butterfly pea flowers you were given; add lemon or simple syrup to taste; otherwise the flavor is earthy and woody. To make herbal tea, steep the 1 to 2 teaspoons of butterfly pea flowers in filtered hot water for 5 minutes and then remove the flowers. You can drink this tea by itself (add sliced lemon or lemon juice to make the drink purple) or add it to cold lemon water for a refreshing beverage; just use less water to make the tea. You can make iced herbal tea as well, sweeten it with simple syrup or another liquid sweetener like agave syrup or maple syrup.
Alexandra says
LOOOVE IT! wish I would have found this recipe sooner 🙂 so aesthetic and tastes delicious!
Emily says
Thank you for your review, Alexandra, I'm so glad to hear that you love the recipe!
công thức nấu ăn says
Amazing drink recipe for weekend!
Emily says
Thanks very much!
Suchita says
Beautiful photography! I am a regular chai drinker but you have just tempted me to try something new.
Emily says
I'm glad to hear it, thank you!