Like the different hues in the sunset sky, your daily cup of tea has changed its colour. While you were raving about the health benefits of green tea, a silent competitor has made its entry into the beverage room, and those who have had a taste of this elixir are going ga-ga over it.
Yes, we are talking about the latest entrant in the tea market, the blue tea. With a colour that’s already synonymous with being refreshing and soothing, the blue tea promises all this and more.
Let us explore this new variant in tea and find out whether it’s as rejuvenating and delicious as it looks.
Blue tea is made from the flowers of a creeper called Clitoria ternatea. This plant is also called butterfly pea, blue pea, cordofan pea, bluebellvine or the Asian pigeonwings. It is native to many Asian countries and widely found in India too, known by the name Gokarna or Aparajita. The bright and inky blue colour of the tea is attributed to blue colour of the flowers.
After having experimented with green tea and making it our daily beverage, all eyes have now turned towards this ravishing rival called blue tea, which has made its foray into the beverage court. While green tea is somewhat bitter, blue tea is sweeter, richer and more floral with a taste of earthiness.
What makes the blue tea so different, desirable and the cup to reach out for?
Blue tea proudly boasts of a host of health benefits. Not only is its royal blue appearance attractive and fancy, but its distinctive taste is also a real treat to the taste buds. Here is a list of healing properties of the blue tea.
- Blue tea contains much lower caffeine than green tea or black tea.
- This herbal tea contains antioxidants called proanthocyanidins. These play a major role in preventing and repairing cellular damage. They also help in the production of skin collagen thereby maintaining skin elasticity and also help in anti-ageing.
- The wonderful blue tea is known to be an antidepressant. So, sipping on this blue beverage will drive away the blues. (That was a lovely pun, unintended though). It lowers anxiety levels too.
- The anthocyanin also helps to have shiny hair and in treating male pattern baldness.
- It helps the liver produce more bile, and with the antioxidants combined, help in digestion. A cup of blue tea reduces nausea.
- This exotic tea has diuretic properties. It can be used in cases where people have urinating problems.
- The tea has antipyretic properties, which help in treating fever.
- Its magical properties boosts brain cell activity keeping you rejuvenated and energised.
- It regulates metabolism and blood sugar levels.
- It is also good for the heart as it protects against cardiovascular disease.
The list of health benefits looks endless. It looks like this revolutionary tea is here to stay!
So, how do we brew that perfect cup of blue tea?
Like all teas, you get the best flavour out of the herb when you steep it in water. Here is a step by step method.
- Boil about a quarter cup of water. Switch off the heat and take the pan down.
- Add 3-4 dried butterfly pea flowers in the boiled water and allow it to steep for about 20 minutes.
- For hot tea, you can dilute this infusion directly with water.
- For cold tea, let the flower infused water cool down.
- Add ice cubes, a sweetener like honey if you wish and garnish it with rosemary sprigs.
- Your exotic blue tea is ready.
Alternatively, when you add a dash of lime to it, you can see some magic! The blue colour slowly changes to purple! It is a visual treat. And you have some iced lemon blue tea ready!
We are savouring this magical concoction called blue tea. What about you all?
[Image Credit: The Indian Express]
