Today we offer you a bit of cocktail magic. Something with which to astound your friends. We recently discovered Butterfly Pea Flower tea. It is an herbal, caffeine free tea with various health benefits but what is most peculiar about the tea is its bright cobalt color and ability to change color by altering the PH of the tea with things like citrus and tonic. This opens the door for a range of cocktails that are not only delicious but aesthetically beautiful. There are brands of gin that are infused with Butterfly Pea Flowers (Empress 1908) but we prefer making our cocktails with chilled Butterfly Pea Flower tea (easily found online). The Pea Hive Gin Sour is our own creation. It is a variation on the Bee’s Knee cocktail that combines Honey Simple Syrup and Butterfly Pea Flower tea with Gin. The magic in the cocktail is to serve it as prescribed below garnished with a generous lemon wedge and stir stick. The drink as prepared will be deep cobalt blue but when the imbiber squeezes the lemon into the cocktail (as the final ingredient) and gives it a stir, the drink will then change to a vivid purplish-pink color right before your eyes. The Pea Hive Gin Sour is not only a delicious treat for the palate and eyes but is just plain fun to make and will be the hit of the party when you introduce your friends to its magic.
Pea Hive Gin Sour
In advance prepare Butterfly Pea Flower tea steeped as you would any other tea, then let cool before using.
In a shaker glass filled with ice add:
- 2 Ounces London Dry Gin
- 3 Ounces Chilled Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
- 1 Ounce of Honey Simple Syrup*
Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a large lemon wedge and tall straw or stir stick. Once the cocktail is presented, have the imbiber squeeze all the lemon into the cocktail as the last ingredient, then stir to create the color change. Enjoy the Magic!
*Honey Syrup
In a small saucepan on low heat add:
- 6 Ounces of Water
- 6 Ounces of Honey
Heat slowly stirring constantly until honey and water are combined and the honey is thinned. Remove from heat and cool. (Keeps in the refrigerator for 5-7 days). |
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