This Color-Changing Midnight Alchemy Cocktail Is Magic in a Glass

Deep blue butterfly pea flower tea undergoes a little cocktail alchemy with the addition of a sweet-tart limoncello elixir in this DIY cocktail recipe. Serve the lemon mixture in test tubes alongside the glasses to let guests pour it in themselves. The citrus instantly transforms the blue tea into mesmerizing shades of violet and purple.

Ingredients

Instructions

Yields 2 servings

Prepare the Tea Mixture

Bring the water to a boil. Place the butterfly pea flowers in a medium bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Steep approximately 5-7 minutes, until deep sapphire blue. Strain out the flowers using a mesh sieve. Allow the tea to cool completely. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill.

Prep the Test Tubes

Meanwhile, combine the limoncello and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a small measuring cup or cocktail pitcher. Divide the mixture evenly between two 110 ml food-safe test tubes. Each tube will contain about 3 1/2 ounces.

"Decant" the Cocktails

Fill two double old-fashioned glasses (11.5 oz. capacity) with ice. Divide the butterfly pea flower tea between the glasses.

Potions Away!

Serve one filled test tube alongside each glass. To enjoy, pour the limoncello mixture into the blue butterfly pea flower tea. When the acidic citrus mixture hits the tea, the beverage will transform from brilliant blue to bright shades of violet and purple.

Stir well before enjoying. The limoncello mixture doesn’t just create a magical color change. It also sweetens and infuses the tea with a bright lemon flavor.

Note: This recipe is easy to scale up for a party. For 6 cocktails, you’ll need 4 1/2 cups of water, 6 tablespoons dried butterfly pea flowers, 18 oz. limoncello, and 3 oz. lemon juice. Keep the tea and filled test tubes chilled until ready to serve, then set them out together so guests can create their own midnight alchemy.