This easy butterfly pea latte comes together in just 10 minutes with four simple ingredients, creating a vibrant and cozy plant-based drink perfect for any time of day.
What is Butterfly Pea Powder?
The butterfly pea flower (clitoria ternatea), or Asian pigeon wing, has long been grown in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Malaysia. It is famous for its vibrant blue petals, which are dried and ground into a fine powder.
What makes the pea flower powder extra fun is its color-changing magic—depending on the liquid’s pH, the powder will shift from purple to blue.
Another recipe with butterfly pea powder you will enjoy is blue pancakes– perfect for holidays like the Fourth of July for a festive breakfast spread.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Butterfly Pea Powder: Butterfly pea powder or blue matcha is an antioxidant-rich herb made from dried butterfly pea flower petals. It naturally colors the butterfly pea latte, lending the tea its vibrant blue color.
- Milk: Use a milk of your choice—oat, soy, coconut, or unsweetened almond milk. After trying several options, the creaminess of oat milk tastes the best with the power, but mild tea like ginger or white tea works just as well.
- Sweetener: Sweeten the latte with honey and vanilla extract.
Additions and Substitutions
- Sweeten the drink. Replace the honey in the recipe with maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar-free option like liquid monk fruit. Or you can experiment with different flavors by adding honey lavender simple syrup or cardamon simple syrup.
- Spice it up. Add a pinch of ground cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom powder.
- Chill out. Fill a drinking glass with ice cubes and pour the blue latte mixture over the top for a refreshing cold latte.
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
- Saucepan: Warm the milk or tea in a small saucepan or drinking mug until it reaches the ideal temperature for the butterfly pea powder.
- Small Bowl: Sift the powder in a small bowl. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just something with a lip, so the powder doesn’t end up all over you.
- Whisk: Combine the latte with a bamboo whisk called a chasten to prevent the powder from clumping. You can also use a regular whisk to sift the matcha and a handheld frother to combine the drink.
How to Make Butterfly Pea Latte
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Warm the Milk
Step 1: Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it reaches 190℉ (88℃).
Prepare the Powder
Step 2: Meanwhile, sift the butterfly pea powder in a small bowl with a regular whisk or bamboo whisk to avoid clumps.
Assemble the Drink
Step 3: Remove the pan from heat and add the sifted powder, honey, and vanilla extract. Whisk for 15 seconds to combine.
Step 4: Pour the drink into a mug and use a handheld frother to aerate for 30 seconds for a frothy finish, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use a low temperature. Keep an eye on the saucepan and maintain a low temperature. If the milk overheats, it will foam and overflow.
- Prepare the powder. The ideal water temperature for preparing butterfly pea powder is 190℉ (88℃).
- Use the right ratio. A traditional latte is one part butterfly pea powder and two parts milk, but adjust the ratio to your preference.
If you enjoy the flavorful latte, try more of drink recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does butterfly pea latte taste like?
Butterfly pea powder has a very mild, slightly earthy taste that 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.
Is butterfly pea flower good for you?
Butterfly pea flower has considerable health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants to support overall health and help fight free radicals. The ground flower petals also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Plus, it is caffeine-free, making the butterfly pea latte a perfect nightcap before you turn in for the day.
Where can you buy butterfly pea flower powder?
You can find butterfly pea flower powder at health food stores, 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 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon butterfly pea powder
- 1 tablespoon honey, as needed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it reaches 190℉ (88℃).
- Meanwhile, sift the butterfly pea powder in a small bowl with a regular whisk or bamboo whisk to avoid clumps.
- Remove the pan from heat and add the sifted powder, honey, and vanilla extract. Whisk for 15 seconds to combine.
- Pour the drink into a mug and use a handheld frother to aerate for 30 seconds for a frothy finish, and enjoy!
- Use a low temperature. Keep an eye on the saucepan and maintain a low temperature. If the milk overheats, it will foam and overflow.
- Prepare the powder. The ideal water temperature for preparing butterfly pea powder is 190℉ (88℃).
- Use the right ratio. A traditional latte is one part butterfly pea powder and two parts milk, but adjust the ratio to your preference.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.