Color Changing Galaxy Lemonade Slushie
This mesmerizing Color Changing Galaxy Lemonade Slushie transforms from vibrant blue to purple when citrus is added, creating a swirling cosmic effect in your glass. Made with butterfly pea flower tea, lemonade, and ice, it’s a refreshing, interactive beverage that’s both delicious and visually stunning.
Ingredients
- 4 butterfly pea flower tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose dried butterfly pea flowers
- 4 cups filtered water
- ½ cup granulated sugar adjust to taste
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice plus extra lemon wedges for serving
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice for enhanced color change
- Ice cubes about 4 cups
- Optional: Edible silver star sprinkles or pearl dust for garnish
- Optional: Lemon slices and mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the butterfly pea flower tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, add butterfly pea flower tea bags, and steep for 5-7 minutes until the water turns a deep blue color. Remove tea bags and allow the tea to cool completely.
- Sweeten the tea: Stir in sugar until completely dissolved. If the tea has cooled too much for the sugar to dissolve easily, warm it slightly then cool again afterward.
- Freeze part of the tea: Pour about half of the blue tea into ice cube trays and freeze until solid (at least 4 hours or overnight). Store the remaining tea in the refrigerator.
- Blend the slushie base: In a blender, combine the frozen blue tea cubes with the remaining chilled tea. Blend until you achieve a slushy consistency that’s still thick but pourable.
- Prepare serving glasses: If using edible decorations, wet the rim of each glass and dip in edible silver stars or brush with pearl dust for a galactic effect.
- Pour and serve interactively: Fill each glass about ¾ full with the blue slushie mixture. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side, instructing guests to squeeze fresh lemon juice into their drinks to witness the magical color change from blue to purple.
- Create the galaxy effect: For a true galaxy look, after adding some lemon juice, use a straw to gently swirl (don’t fully mix) the drink, creating beautiful purple swirls in the blue slushie that resemble nebulae in space.
Notes
- Butterfly pea flower tea can be found in specialty tea shops, Asian markets, or online retailers. The color-changing property is what makes this recipe magical!
- The science behind the color change: Butterfly pea flower contains anthocyanins that change color when exposed to different pH levels. Acidic lemon juice transforms the alkaline blue tea to purple.
- For a more dramatic color effect, use clear glasses rather than colored or frosted ones.
- Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the tea and freeze it into cubes up to a week in advance. Store the remaining liquid tea in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For an adult version, add a splash of vodka or white rum after the color change occurs.