With just a touch of science, you can add a little colorful magic to your cocktails. Butterfly pea flower adds a whole new vibrant look to cocktails, especially when you infuse it with vodka. Don't be intimidated by the idea of infusion. You'll be making magic in no time with your own butterfly pea-infused vodka.
More About Butterfly Pea Flower
The butterfly pea flower, sometimes referred to as blue tea, is a tea that uses butterfly pea flower petals to give it a distinctive, striking blue hue. People have been making and drinking butterfly pea flower tea for centuries, but it wasn't until recently that the tea gained popularity, thanks to television, food blogs, and social media. This popular drink is a tea that you can enjoy either hot or cold. Its flavor is very notably not sweet; in fact, it resembles the earthy flavors of green tea and the floral notes of chamomile.
Magical Color Change Cocktails
Half, okay, all the fun in making butterfly pea-infused vodka is adding a splash of citrus, or an acidic ingredient, to the cocktail to produce a color change, seemingly by magic. To produce the change of color from a deep blue to a vivid violet, add a splash of citrus juice, specifically lemon or lime juice. You'll get a bright pink hue if you add a particularly potent lemonade to the mix.
Making Butterfly Pea-Infused Vodka
It's a relatively simple process to make your own color-changing vodka. Note that it is best to use dried butterfly pea flowers, so if you have fresh flowers on hand, allow them to dry out first properly.
Ingredients
- 8-12 dried butterfly pea flowers
- 750 mL vodka
Instructions
- In large, equal size resealable glass jars, evenly distribute the vodka.
- Evenly distribute the butterfly pea flowers.
- Cover and gently swirl.
- Allow butterfly pea flowers and vodka to infuse from approximately four hours to overnight.
- Strain out flowers.
You can use your infused vodka right away. If you want to keep it or store unused vodka, keep it tightly sealed in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months. If the color or flavor is off, or if flavors start to fade, it's time to discard your butterfly pea flower-infused vodka.
Color Changing Cocktails to Get You Started
Now that it's time to put it all together, whip up a cocktail or two to experiment with your homemade butterfly pea-infused vodka.
A Magicians Vodka Soda
This cocktail will morph from a beautiful blue to that gorgeous purple by adding a splash of lime juice at the very end. If you want the effect to be more subtle, make ice cubes that are a ratio of 4:1 water and lime or lemon juice. As the ice melts, the drink will gradually shift hues.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces butterfly pea flower-infused vodka
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice and vodka.
- Top off with club soda.
- Squeezed lime wedge into drink and drop in.
An Afternoon in the Garden
Step up your floral cocktail dreams by adding elderflower flavors to your cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces butterfly pea flower-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 ounces prosecco
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, butterfly pea flower-infused vodka, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Add prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Rosemary's Purple Vodka Collins
Give your collins a well-deserved flavor and visual upgrade, as well as a talking point with friends. Bonus points for bringing this to a party.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces butterfly pea flower-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or rocks glass, add ice, butterfly pea flower-infused vodka, lemon juice, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Top off with club soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig.
Bewitching Butterfly Pea-Infused Vodka
Don't let the unknown keep you away from playing with butterfly pea flowers. It's a forgiving ingredient that you can start off experimenting with easily-- making a simple cup of tea! Once you've mastered the recommended, or preferred ratio, you'll have all the confidence and skills you need to make your own butterfly pea flower-infused vodka. From there? Take the world by storm with your color-changing cocktails.
