Turbo-charge your regular coffee
Summary: The beneficial effects of coffee and butterfly pea are additive
Feeling tired or sluggish? Maybe a little hungover? (Hey, it happens, we’re not judging). Re-energise yourself with a butterfly pea flower-infused coffee!
Butterfly pea flowers can be infused overnight into milk or milk-substitutes (we use soy milk in this pic), then added to your regular coffee. The flowers have a neutral flavour, so your milk infusion will taste relatively the same. The strong taste of coffee will mask any subtle flavours coming from your infused milk.
Infusing overnight (or even a few hours before) is easy – just pop butterfly pea flowers into milk and leave in the fridge overnight, swirling occasionally. The more time you give your infusion to develop, the more intense the blue colour – and the higher the anthocyanin (antioxidant) content.

There is a LOT of research on the benefits of drinking coffee, which are dependent on the type, quality, and quantity of coffee consumed. Regular coffee consumption can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and diseases associated with ‘advanced glycation end products’ (AGEs) such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
So why add butterfly pea? Infusing the flowers into your milk/milk substitute means that your cup of joe is packed with EVEN MORE healthy antioxidants. These antioxidants can help stabilise post-caffeine changes to blood sugar levels. Butterfly pea also reduces the formation of AGEs, and may have a future role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, diabetes, and weight loss.
The result is a tasty plant-based drink with a complex profile of beneficial molecules. These molecules from both plants work together to ensure that your liver functions better. As the authors of this scientific review put it :
”The protective effects [of antioxidant activity] are irrespective of aetiology of liver disease, and more pronounced in alcohol-related liver disease.”
What does that mean? Regardless of whether your liver is healthy or not, the antioxidant activity from coffee protects your liver from damage. The butterfly pea antioxidants (anthocyanins) further protect your liver and organs from oxidative damage. It’s win win !
Banner image credit : Louis Hansel