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Butterfly Pea Tea Bangkok Guide: The Blue Thai Tea That Turns Purple
Butterfly pea tea is a caffeine-free Thai herbal tea made from the dried blue flowers of Clitoria ternatea, and this butterfly pea tea Bangkok guide explains why it turns purple with lemon, how to brew it hot or iced, and where to buy it in the city or online.
Quick answer
- What it is: an herbal infusion of butterfly pea flowers (ดอกอัญชัน), a plant native to Southeast Asia, often blended in Thailand with lemongrass and pandan.
- Colour: deep blue in the cup, turning violet to purple when you add lemon or lime.
- Caffeine: none in a pure herbal blend like Chaidim Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea, which contains no tea leaves.
- Taste: soft, slightly earthy flowers, lifted by lemony lemongrass and the sweet, vanilla-like note of pandan.
- Brewing: one teabag per 200 ml cup, boiling water, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Where to buy in Bangkok: online at chaidim.com with delivery across Thailand, or in person at the Chaidim Tea House in Talat Noi, Chinatown.
What is butterfly pea tea?
Butterfly pea is a climbing plant with vivid blue flowers that grows easily in Thai gardens and along fences. In Thailand the flowers have long been used to colour rice, desserts and drinks, and they are steeped on their own or with other herbs as a refreshing blue tea. Outside Asia it is often sold as "blue tea".
On its own, butterfly pea has a gentle, slightly earthy and woody taste. That is why many Thai blends pair it with aromatic herbs. Chaidim's version combines butterfly pea with lemongrass and pandan, two of the most familiar scents of a Thai kitchen, for a cup that is lemony, grassy and softly sweet without any added sugar.
Why does butterfly pea tea change colour?
The blue comes from a family of anthocyanin pigments called ternatins. Anthocyanins react to acidity: at a neutral pH the infusion stays blue, and when the pH drops the pigments shift towards violet, purple and even magenta. A squeeze of lemon or lime is enough to trigger the change, which is why butterfly pea drinks are so popular in Bangkok cafes and cocktail bars. A review in Frontiers in Plant Science describes this pH sensitivity and the stability of the ternatins in detail (see Sources).
Tip for the ritual: serve the tea blue, then add the lemon at the table and watch it change. It is a small, calming moment of attention before the first sip.
Butterfly pea tea benefits: what research says
Butterfly pea tea is above all a pleasant, caffeine-free drink. Research on its health effects is still early, so here is an honest summary.
- Antioxidant pigments: the flowers are rich in anthocyanins and flavonoids with antioxidant activity in laboratory studies.
- Blood sugar after a sweet drink: a small randomised crossover trial in 15 healthy men from Chulalongkorn University found that a butterfly pea flower drink taken with sugar lowered the rise in blood glucose and insulin and increased plasma antioxidant capacity compared with sugar alone (Chusak et al., 2018).
- What is not proven: claims about eyesight, hair growth, weight loss or memory come mainly from traditional use and animal or cell studies. They have not been confirmed in good quality human trials.
Safety note: butterfly pea is widely used as a food colour and drink in Southeast Asia, but data on high or long-term intake is limited. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication for blood sugar, or have a health condition, check with your doctor first. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
How to make butterfly pea tea
Hot butterfly pea tea
- Place one Chaidim Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea teabag (2.5 g) in a cup.
- Pour 200 ml of freshly boiled water over it.
- Steep for 4 to 5 minutes, until the colour is a deep blue.
- Remove the teabag. Enjoy it as it is, or add a few drops of lemon or lime and watch it turn purple. A little honey works well too.
Iced butterfly pea tea
- Steep two teabags in 200 ml of boiling water for 5 minutes for a stronger infusion.
- Let it cool, then pour it over a tall glass full of ice.
- Add lime juice or a splash of lemonade last, so the purple layer forms in the glass.
With the loose leaf blend, use roughly the same amount as one teabag (about 2.5 g, a generous teaspoon) per cup and strain before serving.
When to drink butterfly pea tea
- Afternoon and evening: since the blend has no caffeine, it is an easy swap for a late coffee or black tea.
- Hot days in Bangkok: iced with lime, it is a cooling, colourful alternative to sugary soft drinks.
- After a meal: lemongrass and pandan make it a light, fragrant cup to finish lunch or dinner.
- Guests and gatherings: the colour change turns a simple pot of tea into a small moment of wonder at the table.
Butterfly pea vs Lemongrass Ginger: which Chaidim herbal tea to choose?
Both are caffeine-free Thai herbal teas in pyramid teabags, but they suit different moods.
- Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea: floral, lemony and softly sweet, with the blue to purple colour change. Lovely iced and for sharing.
- Lemongrass Ginger: warming and spicy, better on a rainy afternoon or after a heavy meal. Read our Lemongrass Ginger tea guide for more.
Explore every herbal blend in our Caffeine Free collection.
Where to buy butterfly pea tea in Bangkok and online
You can order Chaidim Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea online with delivery across Thailand and abroad. Current sizes and prices:
- Single teabag (2.5 g): 25 ฿, ideal to try it first
- Box of 5 teabags (12.5 g): 125 ฿
- Box of 10 teabags (25 g): 225 ฿
- Box of 25 teabags (62.5 g): 390 ฿
- Loose herbal tea box (60 g): 575 ฿
Want to mix and match? Single teabags of all our blends are in the Individual Teabag collection, and for the festive season the Christmas Gift collection makes an easy present for tea lovers.
Visit the Chaidim Tea House in Chinatown
Prefer to see and smell the tea before you buy? Visit the Chaidim Tea House at 292/5 Tri Mit Road, Talat Noi, Chinatown Bangkok, open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 (closed on Sunday). It is a short walk from the riverside lanes of Talat Noi and an easy stop on a Chinatown afternoon. Get directions on Google Maps.
Butterfly pea tea FAQ
Does butterfly pea tea have caffeine?
No. Butterfly pea is a flower, not a tea leaf, so a pure herbal blend contains no caffeine. Chaidim Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea is made only from lemongrass, pandan and butterfly pea, so it is caffeine-free. Blends that mix butterfly pea with green or black tea do contain caffeine.
Why does butterfly pea tea turn purple?
Its blue anthocyanin pigments change colour with acidity. Adding lemon or lime lowers the pH and the tea shifts from blue to violet or purple.
Where can I buy butterfly pea tea in Bangkok?
You can order Chaidim Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea online at chaidim.com from 25 ฿ per teabag, or visit the Chaidim Tea House at 292/5 Tri Mit Road, Talat Noi, Chinatown, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00.
What does butterfly pea tea taste like?
Plain butterfly pea is mild, earthy and slightly woody. Blended with lemongrass and pandan it becomes lemony, grassy and gently sweet.
Can I drink butterfly pea tea every day?
For most healthy adults a cup or two a day as part of a varied diet is a common way to enjoy it. Long-term safety data is limited, so if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or have a health condition, ask your doctor first.
How do I make iced butterfly pea tea?
Steep two teabags in 200 ml of boiling water for 5 minutes, cool, pour over ice and add lime juice at the end for the purple layer.
Sources
- Chusak C. et al. (2018). Acute effect of Clitoria ternatea flower beverage on glycemic response and antioxidant capacity in healthy subjects: a randomized crossover trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 18: 6. Read the study
- Vidana Gamage G. C. et al. (2021). Anthocyanins from Clitoria ternatea flower: biosynthesis, extraction, stability, antioxidant activity, and applications. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12: 792303. Read on PubMed Central
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.
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