If you really want to get into a spring mood, then get your hands on some edible flowers. Adding flowers to your dishes is tasty, fun, and eye-catching, plus it's a great way to celebrate the season's most precious gifts.
Did you know that lilacs are edible? Whether you're an edible flower pro or an edible flower novice, you're going to love this simple lilac matcha latte recipe. It's a great way for edible flowers to shine because their flavor is present but not overpowering. The combination of the fragrant lilacs with sweet vanilla, decadent maple syrup, and earthy matcha is divine.
What are you waiting for? This unique, show-stopping blue matcha is going to be a photo-worthy centerpiece at all your brunch gatherings this season. Cheers to edible flowers and in particular this stunning lilac drink!
Yes indeed, these beautiful and fragrant spring blooms are edible and this blue matcha is the perfect way to use them. Importantly, note that flowers from the COMMON lilac are edible, whereas flowers from the PERSIAN lilac are not (in fact, the latter can actually be toxic).
Lilac flowers have a floral taste that works nicely alongside matcha and a wide variety of other beverages. As with anything you harvest, make absolutely sure you know what you're getting, pick sustainably, and only harvest lilacs you know haven't been treated with pesticides. Before using them, pluck the flowers off individually and discard the stems, the leaves, and any flowers that have passed their peak.
Because lilacs are very flavorful, they infuse well into liquids. Try letting them steep in lemonade or iced tea for a summery sip, or experiment with steeping them in milk for a latte. You can also infuse them into alcohol (they work best in a colorless spirit with a subtle flavor, like vodka, although gin can also be delicious). As an added benefit, although lilacs can taste assertively floral if you eat them straight, using them in a lilac drink like this blue matcha helps to temper their flavor.
To make this lilac matcha, you'll steep fresh lilacs in soy milk (or whichever milk you prefer) along with vanilla, a dash of maple syrup, and a couple pinches of either blue spirulina or butterfly pea flower for color (more on this below). Feel free to adjust the sweetness and color to your own tastes. Pour it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the flowers, then either use the milk immediately for a hot latte or chill it in the fridge for several hours to make an iced latte.
After that, the rest is easy. Pour the lilac-infused milk into a serving glass (over ice if desired) and top it with a frothy shot of matcha. You can enjoy the simple blue matcha latte as-is, or top it with whipped cream (I like to use coconut whip) and plenty of additional lilac flowers for garnish.
Although food coloring or flavored colored syrups are sometimes used to make blue drinks, there has been a lot of recent research investigating the adverse health effects of artificial coloring. Fortunately there are a few great natural alternatives, so you can easily make a blue matcha latte at home using a healthful (rather than harmful) ingredient.
There are two great ways to this blue lilac drink naturally. One is blue spirulina, which is an edible algae. It has a vibrant blue color and numerous nutritional benefits. Make sure to check out my guide to blue spirulina drinks for more information about this unique ingredient, including where to find it and how to use it.
A second option is butterfly pea flower powder, which is an edible flower with a blue/violet color. Interestingly, the color of the flower's extract is dependent on the pH (i.e., acidity) of the liquid. It appears violet in acidic (low pH) liquids, whereas it appears indigo in basic (high pH) liquids. You can use either option in this lilac matcha recipe, depending on the color you want to achieve.
If you love the idea of a blue matcha, you'll definitely want to check out this tropical coconut blue matcha, which is my personal favorite for summer.
Here's what you'll need for this lilac matcha recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
What do you think? Are you excited to try this flower-infused blue matcha latte? Whether you enjoy it for a spring brunch party or just on a weekday as a special treat, this lilac matcha is beautiful, unique, and decidedly celebratory. It's sure to make you smile.
I hope this post has helped to give you some ideas about how to use edible flowers. Spring is truly a magical time, and incorporating some edible flowers into your meals is a wonderful way to honor the beauty of the season. A lilac drink is a great place to start because lilacs are easy to find and infuse well into liquids.
Cheers to the best season of the year and to this gorgeous lilac matcha!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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Disclosure: Matcha Nude is a long-term partner. I receive free product from Matcha Nude and take a small commission on sales using the discount code. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.
This unique, blue-hued vanilla lilac matcha latte is the perfect sip for spring (yes, lilacs are edible!). It's a bit sweet, a bit floral, and very eye-catching. You'll want to make this blue matcha all season long.
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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