drink
Nam Anchan
น้ำอัญชัน
Mild
Nam Anchan is butterfly pea flower tea — a stunning deep indigo-blue herbal drink made from butterfly pea blossoms that turns vibrant purple when lime juice is added, naturally caffeine-free and mildly earthy.
Cultural Origin
Nam Anchan is a Thai herbal drink made from butterfly pea flowers (Clitoria ternatea), traditionally consumed for its vivid blue color and cooling properties. The drink is rooted in Thai folk medicine and remains popular at health-oriented cafes and traditional dessert shops, often served with a squeeze of lime that shifts the color to purple.
Key Ingredients
- butterfly pea flowers
- water
- honey or sugar
- lime juice
Where to Try It
Thai health cafés, spas, hotel restaurants, and traditional herbal drink vendors.
Tips
- Add the lime separately at the table to watch the dramatic colour change from deep blue to violet-pink — a small piece of Thai food theatre.