Butterfly Pea Flower Cocktails: Color-Changing Gin & Vodka Recipes

Updated October 30, 2026 · By Khwan's Tea

Butterfly pea flower makes the most theatrical cocktails you can serve at home: they start out deep blue and turn purple the moment citrus hits the glass. Here's how it works and three easy recipes.

Why butterfly pea cocktails change color

Butterfly pea gets its blue from anthocyanins, natural pigments that react to acidity. Add lemon, lime or tonic and the drink shifts from blue to violet, purple or pink. The tea itself has very little flavor, so it won't compete with your spirits.

Step 1: Make butterfly pea syrup or tea

Butterfly pea syrup (enough for about 8 cocktails)

1. Bring 200 ml of water to a boil and remove from the heat.
2. Add 20–25 dried butterfly pea flowers and steep for 10 minutes.
3. Strain, then stir in 200 g of sugar until dissolved.
4. Cool and keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Butterfly pea tea: steep 10 flowers in 250 ml of hot water for 5 minutes, then chill.

Blue-to-purple gin sour

• 50 ml gin
• 25 ml butterfly pea syrup
• 25 ml fresh lemon juice, served on the side
• Ice, plus a lemon twist to garnish

1. Fill a glass with ice and add the gin and butterfly pea syrup. Stir.
2. Serve with the lemon juice in a small jug. Pour it in at the table and watch the color change.

Butterfly pea-infused gin works too: add 10 flowers to a 700 ml bottle of gin for 2–4 hours, then strain.

Lemon vodka cooler

• 50 ml citrus vodka
• 100 ml chilled butterfly pea tea
• 20 ml simple syrup
• 20 ml fresh lemon juice
• Lemon slice and mint to garnish

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Add the vodka, syrup and lemon juice.
3. Slowly pour the butterfly pea tea on top so it floats as a blue layer.
4. Garnish with lemon and mint, and stir before drinking.

Alcohol-free version

Swap the spirit for sparkling water or tonic. Tonic is slightly acidic, so it turns the drink a soft violet straight away. For a kids' version, see our magic color-change lemonade.

Tips

• Get the layers right: pour the blue tea last, slowly, over the back of a spoon.
• Use clear spirits: gin, vodka, white rum or tequila show the color best.
• For parties: make a jug of butterfly pea tea and set out citrus wedges so guests can change their own drinks.
• For bars: our 1kg bulk butterfly pea flowers are popular with cocktail bars.

More about the flower: butterfly pea flower tea benefits, taste and how to brew. More about color: butterfly pea as natural food coloring.

FAQ

Does butterfly pea change the taste of a cocktail?
Very little. It has a mild, slightly earthy flavor.

Why didn't my drink change color?
It needs acid. Add more lemon or lime juice, or use tonic water.

How long does butterfly pea gin last?
Strained infused gin keeps for months, but the color slowly fades in light. Store it in a dark place.