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Nam dok anchan (butterfly pea lemonade)
น้ำดอกอัญชัน · deep-blue flower tea that turns purple with lime
Vines of butterfly pea climb fences in gardens all over Thailand, and cafés from Bangkok to Krabi serve the flowers as an iced drink that changes colour at the table. The tea itself is mild and earthy, blue as ink; stirring in lime juice turns it violet and makes it tangy, which children love to watch. Chef's tip: the common mistake is mixing the lime in beforehand; serve the blue tea and lime separately so the colour change happens in the glass.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- ½ oz dried blue pea flowerssold as butterfly pea or anchan flowers; about 40 flowers
- 4 ¼ cups boiling water
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 3 limesjuiced
- 14 oz ice cubes
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Pour 4 ¼ cups boiling water over ½ oz dried blue pea flowers and steep until it is a deep, inky blue, about 8 minutes. Strain and cool.
8 minStep 2: Heat 3 ½ oz sugar and ½ cup water in a small pan, stirring, until clear. Cool the syrup.
3 minStep 3: Fill glasses with 14 oz ice cubes, add syrup to taste and pour over the blue tea.
2 minStep 4: Serve 3 limes juice in a small jug alongside; pour it in and stir to watch the drink turn purple.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 100 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nam dok anchan (butterfly pea lemonade) take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of limes?
- Lemon, same amount.
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