Ocean blue latte | Glutenfreewhisk

 Butterfly pea or blue pea is a delicate little flower with soothing effects, and it is a great option when you want to add color to your food because it is natural and gives two shades naturally. No additives, no chemicals just nature and this blue color tea go great with coffee. 

I have already shared one amazing recipe with blue pea or butterfly tea and coffee which is mango blue pea coffee where I have used pink color from the blue pea flower, and it is just amazing. And to extra that color all you have to do is add lemon juice. But in this ocean latte recipe I am combining milk with the natural blue color of butterfly pea flower tea and adding the frothy coffee on the top. This ocean latte has become a new Instagram obsession because of its beautiful color and when the brown shade of coffee merge it seems like an ocean when water meets the sand. So beautiful.

I was really skeptical to add milk to blue pea tea initially and I was not sure whether this is the right thing to do but then I tried it and strangely it worked. This ocean latte is great and since blue pea tea does not have a flavor, the boldness of coffee dominates this recipe with the magical ocean colors. I am using regular cow's milk for this recipe but to make a vegan version of Ocean blue latte take any milk of choice. It will go great with coconut milk. If you are looking for a good quality, good consistency coconut milk then you can use Urban platter unsweetened coconut milk or you can even make your own coconut milk at home with fresh coconut.

I always use the mix of light blue/white and blue colored blue pea flower. Even though I know that the white won't bring any color but since I have both the colors in my garden I like to use both. It is just my thing. In the market only blue colored are sold for making blue pea tea. For blue pea flower you can select Urban platter blue pea flower to brew the tea. I am using blue pea flower from my kitchen garden.

This is episode 15 in my summer recipe series and sharing summer drinks is even better than sharing summer meal recipes. Drinks in summer season are like life savers as most of the time in this hot summer all you crave is a good drink that is ready within minutes with least efforts. For more great summer drink recipes, you can check my bel sharbat recipe or wood apple juice because bel is a great naturally cooling summer fruits and is available during summers only so make the most of it. Try my Raw mango kanji recipe with ginger recipe because it is an absolute savory summer drink that is naturally fermented and great for your gut. Talking about naturally fermented drinks from Indian, Ragi Ambali is a must try. This beauty from South India should be made every day and enjoyed because it is an exceptional in taste, texture and health benefits.

If you are a drink person but more of a smoothie person, then try my recipe of blueberry mango smoothie with coconut. It is super tasty, healthy and a great, quick and easy breakfast option to indulge in. And since mango are in season you have to use it in everything.

For the ocean blue latte recipe, I have used a lot of ice as you can see because my blue pea tea is freshly brewed and is still warm. The weather is hot so even after cooling it for a while it still feels hot. If you are using cold blue pea tea, then you can skip ice altogether. I personally do not prefer a lot of ice in my drinks as it spoils the flavor for me but here it was a requirement. 

A lot of people are also using blue spirulina powder to make ocean blue latte recipe, and you can do that as well. But personally, I have never tried this nutrient dense spirulina powder, and I have no idea how it tastes but it is a super food and is kind of trending everywhere these days on social in making drinks and desserts so if you do not have blue pea flower then you can use spirulina powder as well  to make this amazing blue latte. You can check this Gunam blue spirulina powder online. Spirulina powder is expensive than blue pea flower for sure, but health benefits are also doubled. So, choose accordingly.

INGREDIENTS -

5-8 Blue pea flower

100 ml water

100 ml milk of choice

2.5 tbsp instant coffee

Sugar, as per taste

Ice cubes

METHOD - 

1. Brew blue pea tea with water and allow it to cool for a while. All you have to do is take clean washed and dried blue pea flowers and add then in water. Let them brew for a few minutes only and allow them to stay in hot water for a while. Don't over brew them as it kills it properties. Brew for a minute and a half and let them sit in hot water. 

2. In the meantime, beat instant coffee with sugar and a little warm water using a milk frother. I am using curaa electric milk frother and it is exceptional when it comes to speed. You get the frothy coffee within seconds.

3. Once the blue pea tea is cool, pour it in the glass add ice according to the requirement, followed by milk. Stir it and finally top it up with frothy coffee mix.

4. As soon as you add the coffee you will see it dispersing it rich brown color in the blue milk and it is just amazing. Stir it incorporating everything together to get all the flavors, sip in and indulge.

Note - You can use any sweetener of choice. I have used white sugar this time, but you can use honey, brown sugar, jaggery or anything else. You can hand beat the coffee or you can use espresso shot as well for your ocean blue latte.

Check the full recipe on YouTube (Gluten_free_whisk) - Ocean blue latte recipe.

Ocean Blue Latte | Glutenfreewhisk