What Is Blue Tea?
Blue Tea is an Ayurvedic Herbal tea made from the Butterfly pea flowers, also known as Shakhpushpi or Aprajita in many parts of India. Outside India, the flowers are called Darwin Pea, Blue Pea, Asian Pigeonwings, etc. The scientific name of the plant is Clitoria ternatea.
The tea offers a visual treat as it is a delightful blue in color. And if you add a slice of lemon to it, the tea magically changes from blue to rich purple. This happens due to the change in pH level as the citrus in lemon turns the tea more acidic, thus resulting in the purple hue. It is not only visually splendid it is also known for its several health benefits. This Herbal infusion is in fact causing many to turn from Green tea to Blue tea.
There are many who believe Blue Tea is way more effective than Green tea which simply rose in popularity due to its celebrity marketing and heavy claims. Let’s see how much truth is in it.
Is Blue Tea More Effective Than Green Tea?
Let us break down the comparison into different pointers and deep dive for better understanding. Let’s start with the history.
History of Blue Tea vs Green Tea
Green Tea
Green Tea became popular only in the postmodern era towards the end of the 20th century. Prior to that Black tea, White tea, Oolong Tea, etc were in use. All these teas, including Green tea, come from the leaves of the same plant Camellia Sinensis. The major difference between them is the degree of oxidation. Green tea is the least oxidized of all and thus contains the least caffeine. This feature was marketed extensively and thus Green tea got promoted as a healthier alternative to other beverages.
Blue Tea
Blue tea on the other hand as any other herbal infusion has been in use for over a thousand years. In Ayurveda, these flowers are known for cognitive, digestive, and spiritual wellness. The plant is called Mangalyakushuma in Sanskrit, which translates to one that brings good health and fortune. Not just in India, but in China, Egypt, and other parts of the world as well these flowers were believed to be used for alternative traditional medicinal purposes.
Caffeine Content of Blue Tea vs Green Tea
Blue Tea is made directly from the Butterfly Pea Flowers. The flowers are simply plucked, sun-dried, and packed fresh thus making it totally caffeine free. Whereas Green tea undergoes extensive processing where the caffeine is allowed to be formed during its oxidation process. This caffeine in green tea is however lower than in other teas like black, white, or oolong.
So for those tea lovers who are looking to avoid caffeine intake, Blue Tea becomes more effective.
Health Benefits of Blue Tea vs Green Tea
Green Tea is often believed to help lose weight. It is rich in certain antioxidants that can help improve metabolism and reduce fat. Although, there is still not enough scientific evidence to prove that, studies are going on regarding the same in several parts of the world.
Some of the potential health benefits of Blue Tea are as follows:
Anti-aging: Blue Tea contains antioxidants that can fight unwanted free radicals on your skin and help protect the skin from damage caused due to pollution, UV rays, smoke, nicotine, etc.
Sleep: Blue Tea is known for its calming effects. It works great as a bedtime tea. It may even help regulate your sleep cycle.
Memory Booster: For thousands of years Butterfly Pea Flowers have been used in Indian Ayurveda by yogis and monks for their noo tropic properties. It is believed to have properties that can boost cognitive abilities thus making it perfect for working professionals as well as students.
Stress: We all know how the world is getting cramped by Stress every passing day. We all are looking for different ways to deal with it. Blue Tea, due to its soothing properties, helps provide relief from mild stress. For severe stress, it is always best to seek professional help.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW TO MAKE BLUE TEA?
- Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Add 5-6 butterfly pea flower petals to the hot water and steep for 1-2 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor will be.
- Pour the tea into a glass teacup. Enjoy.
- Optional: you can add a dash of lemon to watch the hue turn a deep purple. Add sweetener as desired.
- NOTE: You can bring it to room temperature and add some ice cubes to your glass and consume it as an Iced Tea. It can be a perfect respite for you this summer.
CAN I DRINK BLUE TEA EVERY DAY?
Yes, you can drink Blue tea every day. A cup or two a day is perfectly fine.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO DRINK BLUE TEA?
You can drink Blue Tea any time of the day or season. However, some prefer it as a bedtime tea as it helps induce calmness and can be effective in reducing stress and thus promoting sleep.
IS BLUE TEA SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
Blue Tea is generally considered safe for everyone, however, in case of pregnancy, it is always suggested to consult your doctor before drinking any herbal tea.
Conclusion
Blue Tea is a thousand-year-long lost glory of Indian Ayurveda that resurfaced in the past decade. Due to the rising stress and harmful effects of environmental pollution this Darwin pea as if naturally wafted into our lives to heal from beyond time. This tea is rising into popularity organically, without much marketing and promotion. It is simply because people are getting more and more aware and looking for the right alternatives. Now if this Ayurvedic flower tea can help us survive the adversities of mankind or not, only time will say.
