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Herbal (tisane) · Blue tea

Butterfly Pea Flower

Clitoria ternatea, blue tea, nam dok anchan

7.1/10 editor's score

Dried blue flowers of Clitoria ternatea make a striking blue tea. Add lemon and it turns purple. Popular in Thailand and South-East Asia.

Caffeine-freeColour-changingThai
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this herbCompare

Tisane, not from Camellia sinensis. Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dried butterfly pea flowers, top-down

What you need

1 g dried flowersButterfly Pea Flower
250 ml water90 to 100°C
Steep 5:002 steeps
InfusionVivid blue; purple with lemon
Served inMug or cup

At a glance

Dried blue flowers of Clitoria ternatea make a striking blue tea.

CaffeineCaffeine-free
Beginner fit9.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestYear-roundFlowers picked through the year.
Pairs withLemon and honey, Coconut desserts, Sticky riceLess good with milky drinks
Grown asLowlandsVarious regions, Popular across Thailand
Served inMug or cupA general choice

About Butterfly Pea Flower

What sources say about the taste

Sources say the colour changes with pH: acid such as lemon juice turns it purple 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it is grown

Various regionsPopular across ThailandTHAILAND
Plant
Clitoria ternatea 12
Caffeine
Caffeine-free 1
Colour
Turns purple with acid like lemon 1
Native to
Equatorial Asia 2

More from Various regions and Thailand.

History and culture

In Thailand and Vietnam, it is mixed with honey and lemon to turn pink-purple, often served after dinner 2.

Editor's score

7.1/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the plant, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 5.0Origin & heritage: 6.5Availability: 7.5Value: 9.0Beginner-friendliness: 9.0Versatility: 9.0Flavour 5.0Heritage 6.5Availability 7.5Value 9.0Beginners 9.0Versatility 9.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg
Butterfly Pea Flower0 mg

Butterfly pea flower tea is caffeine-free 1. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

A tropical flowering vine. Tap a month or a season.

The plant

Clitoria ternatea, a vine native to equatorial Asia 2.

How it is made
01Picking

Flowers picked.

02Drying

Dried.

Dry herb and infusion
Dry flowersDried deep blue flowers.
LiquorVivid blue; purple with lemon.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft blue petals.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Lemon and honey
  • Coconut desserts
  • Sticky rice

Best avoided

  • Milky drinks

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and moisture.
  • Dried flowers and leaves lose aroma within about a year.
  • Buy small amounts and keep away from spices and coffee, which taint the smell.
Quality and buying

Whole flowers give the deepest colour.

Buying tips

  1. Also used as a food colouring 2.
  2. Mild taste: most people blend it.
FAQ
Why does it change colour?

The colour responds to pH; acid turns it purple 1.

Find it inHerbal infusionsTeas from ThailandVarious regionsCaffeine-freeColour-changingThai

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Butterfly pea flower tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_pea_flower_tea
  2. Wikipedia, "Clitoria ternatea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoria_ternatea
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.