I love it when food experiments turn out successful. I’ve long loved the beautiful violet hue of Empress gin and was wondering if I could make it at home with the addition of this tea flower. I have been on a “tint everything purple” kick, and it just so happens that yes, you can make purple gin at home. Read on if you want to learn how to make purple gin at home for your next happy hour!
How to Make Purple Gin at Home
One: Gather your ingredients. You’re going to need gin (I used Tanqueray), an empty tea bag (or fine cheesecloth), and about 10-15 butterfly pea tea flowers.
Two: Put the tea in the empty tea bag and let steep for 15 minutes (or longer depending on how dark indigo you want your gin).
Three: Remove the tea bag and store your completed gin for whenever you want to use it.
It’s incredibly simple to recreate purple gin at home and the nice thing is, the butterfly pea flower doesn’t add any additional taste to the gin so there is no worry of “tea” flavor sneaking up on your cocktail hour.
You may have a few questions regarding this process so I’ve broken them down into the below FAQs.
Why Make Purple Gin
Because it’s fun! There is no rule that gin has to be clear and if you’re looking for a way to add a splash of color to your cocktail hour, this is a great way to go about it. Plus until advanced distilling methods were available, most gins used to be a cloudy brown color due to the spices that were diffused in it.
What supplies do I need to make purple gin?
You will need an empty tea bag or a piece of cheesecloth to hold the tea flowers in, butterfly flower pea tea ( I used Harney & Sons), gin (I used Tanqueray), a liquid measuring cup, a storage container, and a spoon.
Why do you use a teabag?
I didn’t have any cheesecloth on hand so it was an affordable and efficient way to contain the pea flowers to keep any sediment from escaping and leave any floating particles in my gin.
How long does it take to make purple gin?
About 15-20 minutes. 15 minutes were for steeping (letting the tea flower hue to diffuse into the gin) and 5 minutes hands-on to create the gin.
How long does purple gin last?
It should last you as typical spirits last. Since the butterfly pea flower tea is only adding color, there is no perishable element to worry about to create this at home.
What can I make with purple gin?
Anything you like! The color of your drink may vary depending on other elements you add to it. Lemon will make it turn more of a violet hue whereas diluting with tonic will turn it a softer lavender. You can recreate any of the below recipes with purple gin to create an even more fun drinking experience for happy hour.
Pink Gin Gimlet || Gin Grapefruit Gimlet || Lemon Gin Fizz || The Frozen Frenchie
Can I use Another Spirit other than Gin?
Yes, any clear spirit will work for this recipe. Just use what you like, I personally love gin so this is what I used.
There you have it, a super simple way to make purple gin at home. Watch me make this on Instagram and Pinterest.
I really like the idea of infusing tea with gin. This is really creative. I am impressed. Can’t wait to try it!
Enjoy!
Is this for the full bottle of gin?
This was for 2 cups of gin. If you want to do a whole bottle, just increase the number of tea flowers you use.
so I hope this doesnt come off agressive. its actually good news! But the blossoms actually DO add a little flavor to the gin and that’s actually the point. bars dont make/use this gin solely as a cosmetic gimmick. It adds a floral note to the already botanical gin that is harmonious. No it doesnt taste like black tea but Butterfly Pea blossoms DO have a taste and thats why people have been making tea out of it for centuries!
Well that’s fun! Thanks for the note!