Magic Color Changing Lemonade
This enchanting color-changing lemonade combines freshly squeezed lemon juice with butterfly pea flower-infused syrup to create a magical blue drink that transforms to purple when additional lemon juice is added, delighting both taste buds and eyes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice about 6-8 lemons, divided
- 2 tablespoons dried butterfly pea flowers or 4-5 tea bags
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water for simple syrup
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices for garnish
- Fresh mint leaves optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the butterfly pea infusion by bringing 2 cups of water to a simmer in a small pot. Remove from heat, add the dried butterfly pea flowers or tea bags, and let steep for 5-10 minutes until the water turns a deep blue color. Strain and set aside to cool completely.
- Make a simple syrup by combining the sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar completely dissolves (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Reserve half of the lemon juice (about ½ cup) in a separate container for the color-changing magic later. This is the crucial ingredient that will trigger the transformation.
- Prepare the base lemonade by combining the butterfly pea infusion, the remaining ½ cup of lemon juice, simple syrup, and cold water in a large pitcher. Stir well—the mixture should be a beautiful blue color at this stage.
- Chill the lemonade thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. For an extra magical touch, make ice cubes using some of the butterfly pea tea to prevent dilution when serving.
- Serve the magic show by pouring the blue lemonade into clear glasses filled with ice. At the table, pour a small amount of the reserved lemon juice into each glass and watch as the lemonade transforms from blue to purple before your eyes!
- Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and mint leaves if desired, then serve immediately while the color transition is still vivid.
Notes
- For the best color transformation, use clear glasses to showcase the magical effect.
- The butterfly pea flowers can be found online, in specialty tea shops, or Asian grocery stores. They’re completely natural and caffeine-free.
- You can prepare the butterfly pea infusion and simple syrup a day ahead and refrigerate.
- For a more dramatic effect at parties, keep the blue lemonade in a pitcher and provide small containers of lemon juice for guests to add themselves.
- The color change happens due to the pH sensitivity of the butterfly pea flower—it’s blue in alkaline environments and turns purple/pink in acidic conditions.