Butterfly Pea Gin & Tonic
Société Team
The Most Magical Summer Drink You'll Ever Make If you've been searching for the perfect butterfly pea cocktail to wow your guests this summer, your search ends right here. This Butterfly Pea Gin & Tonic is equal parts stunning and delicious — a color-changing gin and tonic that earns gasps before anyone even takes a sip. The secret is the natural pH-sensitive pigment in butterfly pea flower. When it meets acidic citrus juice, it shifts dramatically from deep indigo to a gorgeous violet-pink right before your eyes. No food coloring, no tricks — just pure botanical science doing its most beautiful work. What Is Butterfly Pea Tea and Why Does It Change Color? Butterfly pea flower, known botanically as Clitoria ternatea , has been used for centuries across Southeast Asia as both a natural dye and a soothing herbal tea. Its flowers contain anthocyanins — the same family of pigments found in blueberries and red cabbage — which are exquisitely sensitive to pH levels. At neutral pH, the brew runs a rich, almost otherworldly blue-violet. Add something acidic — lemon juice, lime juice, tonic water — and the pigment molecules rearrange, shifting the color toward pink and purple. It's genuinely one of the most enchanting properties of any tea cocktail ingredient you'll ever encounter. Societe's Butterfly Pea Tea makes this whole process effortlessly repeatable. The flowers are dried and ready to steep, producing a vivid, deeply colored concentrate that behaves consistently every time — ideal for entertaining. The Star: Butterfly Pea Gin & Tonic (Serves 1) This is the blue cocktail recipe you'll come back to all summer long. The gin brings botanical depth, the tonic adds its signature bitter sparkle, and the butterfly pea concentrate does the rest — including that show-stopping color shift at the table. Why This Recipe Works Gin is the perfect partner for butterfly pea flower. Most gins are already loaded with botanicals — juniper, coriander, citrus peel — that harmonize naturally with the earthy, slightly floral flavor of the tea. The concentrate is subtle in taste but explosive in color, so it enhances without overpowering. And tonic water, with its own gentle bitterness, keeps the whole drink balanced and refreshing. Ingredients For the Butterfly Pea Concentrate: - 3 tablespoons Societe Butterfly Pea Tea - 1 cup hot water (just off the boil, around 200°F) For the Cocktail: - 2 oz gin (a classic London dry works beautifully) - 1.5 oz chilled butterfly pea concentrate - 3 oz tonic water, chilled - 1 lemon or lime wedge (for the tableside reveal) - 1 lemon wheel, for garnish - Ice (large cubes preferred) Instructions 1. Make the concentrate: Steep 3 tablespoons of Butterfly Pea Tea in 1 cup of hot water for exactly 8 minutes. Any shorter and the color will be pale; any longer and a slightly grassy note can emerge. Strain carefully through a fine mesh strainer and allow to cool completely. Refrigerate until fully chilled before using — at least 30 minutes. 2. Build the drink: Fill a tall glass (a highball or Collins glass works perfectly) generously with ice. Pour in the gin first, then gently pour the chilled butterfly pea concentrate over the back of a spoon to keep the layers distinct. The drink should look a deep, jewel-like indigo at this stage. 3. Top with tonic: Slowly pour the chilled tonic water down the inside edge of the glass. This helps maintain those gorgeous layered blues and keeps the carbonation lively. The drink stays layered blue — for now. 4. The reveal: Set a lemon or lime wedge on the rim. At the table, invite your guest (or yourself — no judgment) to squeeze the wedge directly into the drink and give it a light stir. Watch it bloom from indigo to violet to a blushing pink-purple. This is the moment everyone reaches for their phone. 5. Garnish and serve: Float a fresh lemon wheel on top and serve immediately. Sensory cues: The finished drink should smell bright and botanical — juniper-forward with a floral, slightly grassy undertone from the tea. The color after the citrus addition should be a vivid grape-violet if you use lemon, or lean slightly more pink with lime. Storage note: The butterfly pea concentrate keeps well in the refrigerator in a sealed jar for up to 5 days. Make a big batch ahead of a party — it's a genuine time saver. Simple Variations Butterfly Pea Cocktail Vodka Version: Swap the gin for a clean, unflavored vodka for a lighter, crisper drink that still does the full color transformation. This version lets the floral tea flavor shine even more clearly. Sparkling Elderflower Twist: Replace the tonic water with elderflower sparkling water for a softer, more floral herbal cocktail that's a little less bitter and beautifully aromatic. Butterfly Pea Simple Syrup Once you've made the concentrate, it's a tiny extra step to turn it into a gorgeous butterfly pea cocktail syrup — and having a bottle of this in your fridge opens up an entire universe of butterfly pea cocktail ideas. This syrup works in lemonades, sparkling waters, champagne cocktails, and even drizzled over ice cream. The color-changing magic transfers perfectly to every application. Ingredients 1 cup butterfly pea concentrate (brewed as above) 1 cup white granulated sugar Instructions 1. Combine the still-warm butterfly pea concentrate and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. 2. Stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved — this should take about 3 to 4 minutes. Do not allow the mixture to boil, as excessive heat can subtly dull the color. 3. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely at room temperature. 4. Transfer to a sealed glass jar or bottle and refrigerate. The syrup keeps for up to 2 weeks. 5. Use 0.5 to 1 oz in cocktails in place of plain simple syrup for an instant color-changing effect. Tip: Add a small squeeze of lemon directly to a spoonful of the syrup to see it shift to pink right in your spoon — a great party trick while you're mixing drinks. Iced Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic) Not every spectacular drink needs a spirit in it. This caffeine-free, non-alcoholic tea cocktail-style lemonade delivers the full color-shifting experience in a refreshing summer sipper that absolutely everyone at the table can enjoy. It's also a wonderful way to appreciate the butterfly pea flower on its own terms — earthy, lightly floral, and beautifully vivid. Ingredients 3 tablespoons Societe Butterfly Pea Tea 2 cups hot water 2 tablespoons honey or simple syrup, to taste Juice of 2 lemons (about 3 oz fresh lemon juice) 1 cup cold sparkling water or still water Ice and fresh lemon slices to serve Instructions 1. Steep the Butterfly Pea Tea in 2 cups of hot water for 8 minutes. Strain and stir in honey or simple syrup while still warm. Allow to cool, then refrigerate until chilled. 2. Fill two tall glasses generously with ice. 3. Pour the chilled blue tea halfway up each glass. 4. Here's the magic moment: Pour the fresh lemon juice slowly into each glass — or serve the lemon juice in a small pitcher on the side and let guests pour it themselves. Watch the drink bloom from blue to violet to blush pink as the lemon meets the tea. 5. Top with sparkling water, give a light stir, and garnish with lemon slices. Variation: Add a few fresh mint leaves and muddle lightly for a mint-forward herbal cocktail vibe without the alcohol. Butterfly Pea Cocktail Ideas: Mixing Tips and Pairings Once you have your concentrate or syrup ready, the butterfly pea cocktail color-changing potential is almost limitless. Here are a few ideas to spark your summer menu. Blue Margarita: Swap in the butterfly pea cocktail syrup for simple syrup in a classic margarita. The lime juice will do the color transformation instantly. Butterfly Pea Champagne Fizz: Pour 0.5 oz of the syrup into the bottom of a champagne flute, then top with brut sparkling wine. Stir gently and watch the fizz swirl through violet and pink. Tea Cocktail Punch: Scale up the concentrate to make a large-batch punch with gin, elderflower liqueur, tonic, and citrus. Set out a lemon juice pitcher and let guests create their own color shift. Butterfly pea cocktail ingredients pair especially well with citrus-forward spirits, floral liqueurs, and anything with a clean, clear base. The visual drama is always the same — but the flavor profile is entirely yours to design. A Note on Butterfly Pea Flower Wellness Many people are curious about butterfly pea drink benefits beyond the visual spectacle. Traditionally, the flower has been associated with supporting cognitive clarity, relaxation, and antioxidant activity — and those qualities make it a popular ingredient in the wellness world. Please note: The Butterfly Pea Tea featured in these recipes is used here for its extraordinary flavor and color. This post is not intended as medical advice, and herbal teas should not be used as a substitute for professional medical treatment. If you have health questions or concerns related to herbal use, please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any changes to your routine. As always — enjoy responsibly, and this cocktail is for adults 21 and older. Bring the Magic Home This Summer There's nothing quite like mixing a drink that makes people stop and stare — and this butterfly pea cocktail delivers that moment every single time. Whether you're hosting a garden party, a backyard barbecue, or just treating yourself to something spectacular on a warm evening, this color-changing gin and tonic is summer in a glass. Ready to make your own? Explore Societe's Butterfly Pea Tea and the full collection of botanicals and herbal teas at societeapothecary.com — your next favorite summer ritual is waiting.