Drink Magic
Santosh Jha
| 29-08-2025
· Food Team
We’re about to create a magical, color-changing drink right in our kitchen. Imagine a drink that starts deep blue and magically shifts to purple or pink when we add a splash of lemon juice.
It’s not just pretty—it’s a fun experiment combining flavor, color, and a little science. Today, we’ll show a step-by-step method so we can make it easily, impress friends, and enjoy the process ourselves.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For one glass (about 300–350ml), we’ll need:
- 5–6 dried butterfly pea flowers (about 2 grams)
- 150 ml boiling water
- 150 ml cold juice (like lemonade, apple juice, or orange juice)
- 50 ml milk or coconut milk (optional for layering)
- 5–6 ice cubes (optional)
- 1–2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Butterfly pea flowers are the magic ingredient. They contain natural anthocyanins, which change color depending on acidity. That means the same blue tea can turn purple or pink when we add lemon or another acidic ingredient.
Step 1: Make the Blue Tea
1. Boil 150 ml of water.
2. Place 5–6 butterfly pea flowers in the hot water.
3. Let it steep for 5–8 minutes until the water turns a rich, vibrant blue.
4. Remove the flowers and let the tea cool slightly.
The longer we steep, the deeper the blue color becomes. The tea has a mild flavor, which makes it easy to mix with juice or milk without affecting taste.
Step 2: Prepare the Glass
1. Take a tall glass (200–250 ml capacity).
2. Add ice cubes if we want the drink cold or to slow the mixing.
3. Pour 150 ml of cold juice into the glass, filling it about 60% full.
Tip: Chilling the juice first helps if we want a layered gradient effect because colder liquids sink while warmer liquids rise.
Step 3: Pour the Blue Tea Slowly
1. Take a small spoon.
2. Place the spoon close to the surface of the juice.
3. Slowly pour the cooled butterfly pea flower tea over the spoon so it gently flows into the juice.
We’ll notice a soft blue-to-light gradient starting to form. Pouring carefully ensures the liquids don’t mix too quickly and allows us to see the gradual color shift.
Step 4: Add Lemon for Color Change
1. Add 1–2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice into the drink.
2. Watch as the color transforms from blue to purple, then pink almost instantly!
Tip: Adjust the lemon juice for the desired intensity—more juice gives brighter pink or purple tones, while less creates a subtler gradient.
Step 5: Optional Layer with Milk
1. If we want a creamy gradient, slowly pour 50 ml of milk or coconut milk over the back of a spoon into the glass.
2. The milk creates a soft transition from dark blue to light purple, giving a dreamy layered effect.
Tip: Using the spoon prevents liquids from mixing too quickly, helping maintain distinct layers.
Extra Tips for Stunning Drinks
- Use tall, narrow glasses—the extra vertical space makes color gradients look more dramatic.
- Homemade juices often work better than store-bought ones because they’re denser, which makes layering easier.
- Ice slows mixing, helping the color transition last longer.
- Try experimenting with sparkling water, coconut water, or different milk alternatives for unique effects.
By adjusting the juice, milk, and lemon combinations, we can create dozens of visually striking drinks, each with its own magical gradient.
Enjoy and Share Your Creation
Lykkers, making color-changing drinks is both science and art. It’s exciting to watch natural pigments react with acidity and temperature while we enjoy a delicious beverage.
Start with small batches, follow the steps carefully, and see the magic happen in your glass. The process is just as fun as the result. Don’t forget to share your creations with friends or online—these drinks are perfect for parties, brunches, or a colorful treat any time of day.
Cheers to Magical Drinks!
Creating color-changing drinks at home is surprisingly simple. With butterfly pea flowers, a few tricks for temperature and pouring, and some creativity, we can make drinks that look magical and taste amazing. Let’s grab our ingredients, experiment, and bring a little magic to every sip.
How to make colour changing drinks
Video by Dawn Isaac