If Japanese KitKats aren’t enough motivation for you to book a flight to Asia stat, a new Starbucks color-changing cold brew might. Starting today, Feb. 20, participating Starbucks locations throughout Asia will offer a Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade Cold Brew.
The drink combines Starbucks’ cold brew with lemonade and butterfly pea flower tea. The tea, popular in Southeast Asian cuisine, is known for its natural blue tint and ability to change color. According to a writer at Bon Appétit, the tea tastes “earthy and woody—more similar to a fine green tea than it is to blue curaçao or Jolly Ranchers,” like one might expect.
The reason for changing color is that the tea has a very sensitive pH balance. When it experiences the slightest shift in acidity, the color can change from deep blue to dark violet. So for example, when paired with lemonade as Starbz is serving it up, it creates purple and blue swirls. It’s beautiful.
Even if you’re not located in Asia, you’ll probably see this drink hitting up your Instagram feed. However, if you buy some of Butterfly Pea Flower Tea online, you shouldn’t have too difficult of a time replicating this drink at home.