Blue tea is a South Asian herbal infusion known as blue pea or butterfly pea tea. In addition to being a natural dye for food, fabric, and even hair care products, blue tea is frequently consumed for its medicinal properties. For example, it is claimed to boost brain and heart health and have anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties.

Listed below are the benefits of blue tea, its downsides, and how to prepare it.

This South Asian herbal infusion is created from the dried petals of Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.), a plant recognized for its brilliant blue color. This infusion is often flavored with ginger, lemongrass, cinnamon, or mint. Depending on the pH or acidity level of the tea, it may turn violet, green, or red after brewing. You can add tonic water, lime, or lemon to make it more interesting.

Butterfly pea flowers come in various colors, from white to bright blue. The unique blue hue comes from anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds in multiple purple and blue fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins are also responsible for the tea’s reputed medicinal benefits.

Furthermore, butterfly pea flowers can be used to make so much more than natural dye and tea. You can also use the flowers to make cocktails, blue lattes, cookies, and cakes. They are also frequently used as ornamental flowers worldwide.

Blue tea has long been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various diseases. Here are some of the most well-known and evidence-based benefits of drinking butterfly pea tea.

Antioxidants are good chemicals that scavenge free radical molecules. Excessive free radicals levels in the body can cause oxidative stress, accelerating the onset of some diseases.

As previously stated, butterfly pea blossoms are high in anthocyanins, particularly delphinidin. Anthocyanins are a type of antioxidant. They are found in edible flowers, fruits, and veggies and can help prevent illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Delphinidin may also protect against lipid peroxidation, destroying cell membranes, accelerating aging, and producing carcinogenic malondialdehyde (MDA).

Furthermore, a small trial of 16 overweight or obese men found that ingesting butterfly pea flower extract after a high-fat meal helped keep Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) levels high. Gpx is a lipid peroxidation-reducing antioxidant enzyme.

Drinking blue tea can improve your heart by lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, butterfly pea flower extract has been shown in animal experiments to have vasorelaxation effects, meaning it helps expand blood vessels to increase blood flow. Furthermore, it has antithrombotic properties, which means it may prevent blood clots, a risk factor for stroke.

According to the above-mentioned small study of 16 overweight or obese males, consuming butterfly pea extract after a high-fat meal also reduced the creation of fat cells and the accumulation of triglycerides. This suggests that the extract may lower abnormally high blood lipid concentrations after a meal, a risk factor for heart disease. In addition, researchers hypothesize that the antioxidants in the flower suppress pancreatic lipase, an enzyme responsible for breaking down dietary lipids.

Blue tea’s anthocyanins may aid with blood sugar management. According to some studies, antioxidants in butterfly pea extract may block carb-digesting enzymes such as intestinal sucrase, intestinal alpha-glucosidase, and pancreatic alpha-amylase. By blocking these enzymes, the extract slows the digestion and absorption of sugars. As a result, insulin and blood sugar levels are decreased.

Reduced blood insulin levels are linked to a lower risk of blood vessel dysfunction, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. However, regarding the anti-diabetic benefits of blue tea, human research has yielded mixed results.

A study of 15 healthy adults found that eating sucrose (table sugar) with 1 or 2 grams of butterfly pea extract resulted in lower insulin and blood sugar levels 30 minutes later, indicating improved blood sugar management almost instantly after a meal. In contrast, after a high-fat breakfast supplemented with the same amount of butterfly pea extract, the small trial of 16 overweight or obese males revealed no significant differences in blood sugar levels.

It’s also worth noting that human research used floral extract rather than tea. Tea is far more diluted than extract; therefore, it’s unlikely to produce the same noticeable effects.

Drinking blue tea may also have the following benefits:

While there’s a lot of promising research on the health benefits of blue tea, most of it focuses on extracts and antioxidants rather than brewed tea. Furthermore, there is a noticeable shortage of human studies, as most studies are based on animal and test-tube findings. As a result, more human studies are needed to understand better the health benefits of drinking this tea.

Drinking blue tea has no known adverse effects. However, some anecdotal evidence suggests that consuming high amounts of it can cause nausea, stomach discomfort, and diarrhea.

It’s easy to make blue tea at home, and you can drink it hot or cold. You will need these ingredients to prepare a cup of blue tea:

Mix the butterfly pea flowers or tea bag with boiling water in a cup. Allow it to settle for 5 minutes or until the water has turned a vibrant blue color. If desired, sweeten with a little honey or sugar to taste. I prefer it with ginger and without any added sugar.

Lime or lemon juice can also be added. Aside from adding a tangy flavor to the tea also decreases the pH (acidity) level, changing the hue from blue to violet. To enjoy a delicious glass of blue tea on a hot summer day, cool the tea, pour it into a short or tall glass, and top it with crushed ice.

Butterfly pea flowers are steeped in hot water to make blue tea, an herbal infusion native to South Asia. The tea’s brilliant blue hue and medicinal properties are due to its high anthocyanin concentration. These include improved brain and heart health and cancer-fighting and anti-diabetic properties. So, reach for blue tea the next time you want a hot or iced cup of tea.