mystic magic color changing halloween cocktail;

This Halloween cocktail literally changes color as you make it—how cool is that?! From blue to purple, this cocktail changes right before your very eyes! Made with butterfly pea tea, this drink brings Halloween cocktail magic to any party.

I know what you’re thinking. Does it really change color? Yes it does—thanks to the butterfly pea flower! This blue flower is used to brew tea originally, but the addition of acid takes it from a brilliant blue to a purple. And we’re not talking subtle changes here. It’s pretty satisfying and cool to watch the liquid change color. And I know your next question–but HOW?!

Adding acidic liquids is what changes the butterfly pea color. Lemon is quite obviously an acid we use in the drink, but you do have to be a little careful with other mixers as well. Ginger beer is also acidic enough to change from blue to purple. I managed to turn my whole first batch purple because I didn’t think twice about mixing in the ginger beer up front.

I didn’t have any blue leftover to show the change, it was just purple. Lucky I have plenty of butterfly pea flowers and it’s a quick breeze to boil some water for another batch of tea. So learn from my mistake and keep your blues blue! That way your guests can enjoy the color changing Halloween cocktails themselves instead of taking your word for it.

If you’re making the mocktail you’ll get that classic brilliant blue to purple. If you’re feeling like a little whiskey in your drink, you should be aware that color theory still applies here. Adding an amber liquid to the blue butterfly pea mixture will give it a tinge of green. It actually makes for a pretty blue-green, kinda like the color of the ocean in my opinion. But I want you to be prepared. That’s not the color change I’m talking about. With a little bit of acid…you’ll get a stark contrast with the purple. See below for the difference in blue colors between the Halloween cocktail and mocktail versions.

For some extra fun, freeze some lemon and ginger beer ice cubes. This can be a great way to keep the color changing continuing as you sip down your drink. If it lasts long enough to need that extra help from the ice. These things are tasty.

Butterfly pea tea is pretty mild in flavor as far as teas go. So it makes for a good clean base for the cocktail without worrying about super strong flavors. That’s why we go for a good mix of bourbon, lemon, honey and mint. Together these flavors make for a lovely medley, with the added bonus of magic color changing voodoo.

secrets to success;

• To get a brilliant blue, go with clear liquids. The whiskey in this drink will make it go a little more blue-green like the ocean. Don’t worry though, you’ll still be able to see that cool color change to purple!
• For a deeper blue, steep more butterfly pea flowers.
• A tea strainer is advised for this recipe, but if you don’t have one, don’t fret. You can add the loose tea directly to the water, but you’ll need to strain it once it comes off the heat to remove the flower bits!

Check out the other Halloween Cocktails in the 2021 Collection:

• Frog Spawn Kiwi Mojito
• Full Moon Black Raspberry Lemonade Cocktail (recipe coming soon!)
• Bloody Scary, a black and orange cocktail (recipe coming soon!)

For even more ideas, check out the 2020’s witch potion cocktails collection, with cocktails like Elixir of the Night and Witches’ Brew.