Part VIII | Mermaids of the Pink Lotus | Bavarian Flower Garden
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Hors D'oeuvres
~ Lightly Roasted Oysters with Creole Butter, Lemon and White Wine
~ Steamed Edamame, Sugar Snap Peas and
Lightly Toasted Walnuts with Crispy Bread
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Tonight's Magic Hour Special:
~ Butterfly-Pea Flower Tea ~
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Native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, the Butterfly Pea Flower [1] is known for its strikingly deep blue color. The bright blue petals from the flowers of the butterfly-pea plant have been used as an ingredient in herbal tea drinks throughout the region for centuries. The tea is found in both hot and cold varieties, where the cold version is often mixed with honey, mint, cinnamon, passion fruit, and ginger. Hot varieties are often infused with lemon and honey.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of butterfly pea flower tea, is that it will change color when the pH balance changes. A deep blue tea will turn purple with the addition of lemon juice, turning a deeper shade of purple the more lemon juice is added. Mixed with fuchsia roselle hibiscus leaves the tea will turn a bright red color. In Thailand and Vietnam, the Butterfly Blue Pea Flower Tea called "nam dok anchan" is sometimes consumed with a drop of sweet lime juice or with honey and lemon, which turns the drink a pink-purple color.
To make Butterfly Pea Flower Tea or "Blue Tea," steep one tablespoon of dried Butterfly Pea Flower in boiling water for five minutes. Follow recipe as desired [2].
Note: Butterfly Pea Flowers have a stimulating effect on the brain and may trigger vivid dreams, and enhanced memory and brain function.
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Mermaids of the Pink Lotus
Levi, Zoe and Ruby entered the Flower Memory Garden that day after sunset around twilight, their hors d'oeuvres waiting silently on the round tea table. Drinking glasses filled with ice and a bluish-purple tea sat next to oysters. It was the Blue Hour in Bavaria, and the sky outside had a deep blue hue with a gradient of colors ranging from blue to orange that sank with the setting sun behind the mountains. The moon shone like a thin, white crescent in the evening sky.
Levi picked up an oyster, squeezed a small amount of lemon juice on it and swallowed the oyster in one giant gulp.
"Delicious!" Levi exclaimed. "What else is on the menu?"
Zoe peered down at the menu, reading the fine print,
"It looks like there is a Magic Hour Special called Butterfly-Pea Flower Tea."
Ruby peeked up at the tabletop to see what was on it and Zoe handed her a small bowl of steamed edamame, walnuts, half of an oyster and a piece of bread for dunking. While Ruby sat eating at the tea table, Zoe gulped down a couple of oysters with wine-soaked crispy bread, walnuts and sugar snap peas. Levi was drinking one of the glasses of the Butterfly Pea Flower Tea and reading flower tags by the Pink Lotus Pond. He glanced up to see Zoe and Ruby munching on hors d'oeuvres and drinking Butterfly Pea Flower Tea.
"It says here that drinking Butterfly Pea Flower Tea or Blue Tea may trigger vivid dreams and enhance memory. Did Ruby drink any?"
Zoe glanced at Ruby's small iced tea glass that was nearly empty and replied,
"She had a small glass. Why? What does the Tea Tag say?"
Zoe looked over toward the pond and Levi was hunched over looking at something on the ground. He had a large book in his hands and was staring at one of the open pages. All of a sudden, Levi stood up and brought the book over to Zoe and Ruby at the tea table.
"I don't think we need to worry about the Blue Tea, Zoe. Look what I found at the Lotus Pond - a mermaid book!"
Mermaids of the Pink Lotus
Notes:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_pea_flower_tea
[2] https://rishi-tea.com/organic-loose-leaf-herbal-tea/butterfly-pea-flower
[3] https://purplesuper.com/product/butterfly-pea-flower/
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