Blue Velvet Moon Milk - A Cozy Blue Buetterfly Pea, Chamomile & Lavender Latte for Slow Evenings
blue velvet latte by Ayamani Naturals
cup by @aura__ceramics
A chamomile, lavender & Blue Velvet botanical evening ritual
One of my absolute favourite things I’ve ever created is the Blue Velvet Latte. It’s one of those blends that is just ridiculously aromatic and comforting, creamy, naturally sweet from lucuma and vanilla, beautifully blue from the butterfly pea flowers, and with that earthy and grounding little touch of ashwagandha underneath it all. It makes such a satisfying cup on its own, but I especially love it in the evening, when you’re craving something delicious and nourishing to wind down with.
I think the best evening rituals are the ones that fit into whatever it is you actually like doing, kind of as a warm, aromatic and cozy companion to keep close and enjoy, while you enjoy your night-time routine or favourite relaxing activities. You can make yourself a mug to sip while watching your favourite series, cosy up with a book, share one with someone you love, play a game, put on some music, or simply do absolutely nothing for a while and stare at the cieling. Which is such a vibe and something we’d all benefit from doing more, in my humble opinion. But I digress.
I came up with this absolutely delightful combination, that is so simple but exactly perfect. And the fact that it’s THIS simple actually gives it part of its appeal, as the extra ingredients are super accessible and might be something that you have already sitting in your cabinet. You can add a little chamomile and lavender to the mix and there you have my favourite kind of nighttime drink: warm, creamy, floral, comforting and just a little bit magical.
The botanicals
The beauty of this latte comes from the way several botanicals with long histories in traditional herbalism come together.
Blue Butterfly Pea
Blue butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) is the botanical responsible for Blue Velvet Latte's beautiful natural blue colour.
Traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Southeast Asian herbal practices, butterfly pea has a long history as a botanical used in teas and traditional preparations. Its deep blue hue comes from naturally occurring anthocyanins, the same broad family of plant pigments responsible for the colour of many deeply coloured fruits and flowers.
Beyond its botanical qualities, there is something wonderfully ritualistic about butterfly pea itself. Watching its brilliant blue colour bloom into a warm cup makes the preparation feel almost ceremonial.
And if you add a tiny splash of something acidic, such as lemon, you may even see the blue shift towards violet — a little bit of plant chemistry happening right in your mug.
Ashwagandha
Our Blue Velvet Latte also contains ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), one of the best-known botanicals in Ayurvedic herbalism.
Ashwagandha is traditionally classified as a rasayana, a category of rejuvenating or restorative herbs in Ayurveda. It is often described in modern herbal wellness as an adaptogenic botanical, meaning it is traditionally associated with helping the body adapt to everyday stressors and maintain balance.
Rather than thinking of it as an instant “sleep herb,” it can be more helpful to think about ashwagandha as part of a broader ritual of slowing down, replenishing and creating space between the stimulation of the day and the stillness of the evening.
Our Blue Velvet Latte combines it with naturally sweet lucuma and aromatic vanilla, creating a much softer and more delicious way to incorporate the botanical into your evening cup.
Lucuma
Lucuma is a Peruvian fruit that has been enjoyed in the Andes for centuries, particularly for its naturally sweet, caramel-like flavour. Often called the “Gold of the Incas,” lucuma has a wonderfully creamy, almost maple-meets-butterscotch character that makes it such a beautiful addition to naturally sweet blends.
In the Ayamani Naturals Blue Velvet Latte, lucuma helps give the blend its soft, rounded sweetness without needing loads of added sugar. It also pairs beautifully with the floral notes of chamomile and lavender, making the finished cup feel almost dessert-like while still tasting distinctly botanical.
Vanilla
And then there’s vanilla, which has a bad rep as being “bland” but truly is one of the most prized and aromatic and special and versatile botanicals that the planet may have ever witnessed. Okay, I may exaggerate a bit, but that is because I am a prominent defender of this plant against the “vanilla = boring” allegations. Anyways.
Vanilla is one of those ingredients that can completely change the feeling of a drink. Its warm, creamy, sweet aroma softens the more earthy and floral notes in the blend and gives Blue Velvet Latte that lovely comfort in a cup quality.
Vanilla has also been traditionally used as an aromatic botanical and flavouring, prized for its rich fragrance and naturally comforting sweetness. Here, it ties everything together: the earthiness of ashwagandha, the gentle sweetness of lucuma and the delicate floral character of the chamomile and lavender.
Chamomile
Then comes chamomile, perhaps one of the most beloved evening herbs of all.
Chamomile has been used traditionally for centuries as a soothing herbal infusion, particularly as part of nighttime rituals. Its delicate apple-like aroma and gentle floral character make it beautifully suited to a warm evening drink.
There is also something inherently comforting about the ritual of chamomile tea: hot water, fragrant flowers, a few quiet minutes of steeping.
Here, rather than making a separate tea and drinking it alongside your latte, we use chamomile as part of the drink itself.
Lavender
A little lavender brings the final layer of aromatic softness. Lavender has a long history in traditional herbalism and aromatherapy, where its fragrant flowers have been associated with relaxation, rest and tranquillity. Its floral, slightly herbaceous aroma can make an evening ritual feel instantly more intentional.
The key is moderation. Lavender is wonderfully aromatic, but too much can quickly take over a drink and make it bitter. A small amount is enough to create that delicate floral note without turning your latte into a cup of perfume.
Together, chamomile and lavender create a fragrant botanical infusion that pairs beautifully with the creamy sweetness of vanilla and lucuma in Blue Velvet Latte.
The Blue velvet moon milk recipe
Makes: 1 serving
Prep time: 5–10 minutes
Best enjoyed: In the evening, as part of your wind-down ritual before bed
Ingredients
1 tsp Blue Velvet Latte
½–1 tsp dried chamomile flowers
A small pinch of dried lavender flowers
30–50 ml hot water
200–250 ml plant-based milk of your choice
Optional: a little maple syrup or your favourite natural sweetener
Optional: a pinch of cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg for a warmer, cosier finish
Choosing your milk
The milk you choose changes the whole personality of the cup, as it makes all the difference in mouth-feel as well as flavour.
Oat milk creates the creamiest, most velvety latte and is also quite filling due to its density and fiber content, making for one of my favourites for a luxurious evening cup.
Rice milk has a naturally sweet flavour due to the starch in the rice, and makes the drink lighter and gently dessert-like without needing any additional sweetener.
Almond milk gives you a lighter, nuttier cup that lets the floral botanicals shine a little more.
For an especially creamy and frothy result, choose a barista-style plant milk.
How to make it
1. Make your botanical infusion
Add the chamomile and lavender to a small cup or heatproof vessel.
Pour over approximately 30–50 ml of freshly boiled water and allow the herbs to steep for 3–4 minutes.
You don't need a huge amount of water here, just enough to extract the aromatic botanicals while keeping the final latte creamy.
2. Bloom your Blue Velvet
Add 1 teaspoon of Blue Velvet Latte to your favourite mug. The one depicted in the photos is by the lovely @aura__ceramics, based in Portugal.
Pour a small amount of the warm chamomile-lavender infusion over the powder and stir until completely smooth.
This little step is worth taking. Creating a smooth paste first helps the powder incorporate beautifully into the final drink rather than floating or clumping on the surface.
3. Warm your milk
Heat your chosen plant-based milk gently until hot and steaming, but avoid bringing it to a vigorous boil.
If you have a milk frother, this is the moment to use it. A generous layer of foam makes the latte feel especially soft, velvety and indulgent.
4. Pour, breathe, soften. Enjoy
Slowly pour the warm milk into your mug, stirring as you go.
Add more of your remaining botanical infusion if you’d like to make a stronger dose of chamomile and lavender and stir gently.
Taste and adjust the sweetness if desired. For an extra cosy version, finish with the tiniest pinch of cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg.
And then, pause and just be with yourself and your senses, your breath, your body. Before reaching for your phone or moving onto the next thing, take a moment to simply hold the warm cup in your hands.
Let the aroma of lavender and chamomile rise from the mug.
Take a slow breath. Let this be the little ritual that marks the end of the day, and to signal your body that it is time to switch off for the day and wind down, and that it is safe to do so.
ALTERNATIVE METHOD
For the one-pot girlies and pals, you do not have to steep the herbs separately but you can if you’d like to add this extra step for a more mindful step-by-step ritual. The separate ritual also helps with the straining process and makes less of a mess, in my experience.
You may simply start by heating your plant-based milk, and once it is simmering you can turn the heat off, add your chamomile and lavender and let it sit for 3-4 minutes. You can sieve out the herbs and pour the infused milk, add your Blue Velvet Latte, stir thoroughly or whisk, and serve.
Making it a nighttime ritual
The ingredients are only one part of this recipe; herbalism has always been deeply connected to ritual, not simply what plant you consume, but how, when and why you prepare it.
Try making your Blue Velvet Moon Milk around the same time each evening. Dim the lights while your milk warms, or light some candles. Put your phone away for the few minutes it takes to steep your herbs. Let the colour bloom as you stir.
You could even use the preparation as a tiny mindfulness practice:
Steep. Stir. Pour. Take in the scents. Feel the warmth between your fingers. Breathe. Be present, be with you.
There is no need to make your evening routine complicated. Sometimes the most nourishing rituals are the ones simple enough to actually repeat.
And perhaps that is the real magic of a nighttime cup: not that one ingredient switches off the mind, but that you create a gentle transition between doing and being.
A note on the botanicals
Blue Velvet Latte brings together blue butterfly pea, ashwagandha, lucuma and vanilla, while chamomile and lavender add their own traditional herbal qualities and beautiful aromatic character.
This makes the drink particularly lovely for an evening ritual, but it isn't intended to diagnose, treat or cure any health condition. Herbal ingredients can interact with medications and may not be suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication, or have a medical condition, check with a qualified healthcare professional before regularly consuming ashwagandha or other concentrated herbal products.
Most importantly, enjoy this cup for what it is: a delicious, botanical little pause at the end of the day, to just sit and be and feel.
A little blue hour, like a gentle hug in a mug.
You can find the Blue Velvet Latte and more information about it clicking on this link.
