When I first heard of blue matcha – I was very confused as a long time matcha fan. But then I discovered… it’s not really matcha at all. It’s butterfly pea tea! 

Although I was disappointed that “blue matcha” had nothing at all to do with my favorite drink, nonetheless, I did a deep dive on this and even made my own recipe for a blue matcha that actually includes… real matcha too. As it should!

Breaking down Blue “Matcha”

Blue matcha is a vibrant blue beverage that’s typically enjoyed as tea, juice, or in smoothies. Unlike traditional matcha, which is made from green tea leaves, blue matcha is derived from the butterfly pea flower, a plant native to Asia. The flowers are dried and ground into a fine powder, which can be mixed with hot water or milk to create a range of colorful drinks.

Blue matcha is rich in antioxidants and is naturally caffeine-free. It may also help lower cholesterol levels after meals. While it shares its name with traditional matcha, the two beverages are quite different. Keep reading to learn more about blue matcha, including its potential benefits and how to incorporate it into your diet.

What benefits does butterfly pea tea have?

Butterfly pea hasn’t been hugely studied when it comes to the ways it may benefit us. We do know that it’s rich and antioxidants and antioxidants are well studied for being beneficial to us. 

Blue Matcha Has Antioxidants

Blue matcha is a source of an antioxidant called anthocyanins. Anthyocyanins a type of flavanoid (plant compound) are also found in foods like blueberries, blackberries, cherries and black rice. 

Anthocyanins in general can play a role in: 

• Helping in repair of tissues
• Decreasing the risk of heart disease
• Improving vision
• Reducing cancer risk
• Reducing inflammation 

Antioxidants in general play an important role in “clean up” in the body which is helping to protect against free radicals, which are harmful substances that damage cells. Those with autoimmune disease and gut diseases can have more oxidative damage present and may benefit from additional antioxidant consumption. 

Other helpful compounds found in butterfly pea are:

• Kaemphferol. This compound has been studied extensively for its cancer-fighting properties.
• p-Coumaric acid. Some research suggests that p-coumaric acid could have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects.
• Delphinidin-3,5-glucoside.  Some studies show that this antioxidant may help stimulate immune function and may cause cell death in colorectal cancer cells.

Butterfly pea and heart health

We know that higher cholesterol can pose risk for heart disease and stroke and that higher fat meals can rasie levels of cholesterol in the blood. A study published in 2019 found that butterfly pea may actually reduce the body’s response to high-fat meals. The study was limited to only 16 people, so more research is needed on this topic.

Hair and Skin Health

Ideas for using butterfly pea

There are several ways you might incorporate butterfly pea (aka blue matcha) into your diet. Some ideas include:

• On it’s own – try it over ice or hot with soy milk
• Add butterfly pea flower to a matcha latte 
• For a fun magic trick for your kids: Mix lemon or lime juice into a glass offor a vibrantly-colored purple beverage
• Add it into smoothies for a pop of color

Blue matcha is really just butterfly pea – but still worth trying

Although blue matcha shares a name with traditional matcha, they are two distinct substances. Traditional matcha is a green tea made from finely ground tea leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, while blue matcha is a powder derived from the butterfly pea plant. This vibrant blue powder is naturally caffeine-free, contains antioxidants, and may help reduce cholesterol levels after meals.

If you’re interested in trying blue matcha, you can purchase some and experiment with creating your own unique drinks and treats. To make tea, simply steep dried butterfly flower petals in hot water. You can also add the powder to matcha lattes, smoothies, and other beverages for a colorful and nutritious twist.

The recipe I like is to steep butterfly pea for 10 minutes in one cup and make a matcha latte in the other. In a third cup, add ice. Layer the two by adding the dense matcha first and blue butterfly pea on top!