Blue Lotus, A “Legal Psychedelic”

By Jaden Rae

Disclaimer: We do not encourage illegal activity. Check with and adhere to your local laws. We do not claim psychedelics or plant medicine to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always consult with your doctor. The goal of this article is to promote safety and education.

As interest in psychedelics reemerges, many people are curious about “legal psychedelics” and if they can provide the same therapeutic benefits and stress-relief as classic psychedelics.. A year and half ago, I made the decision to quit alcohol (after being an alcoholic for 27 years) and began exploring plant medicines. One natural option that piqued my curiosity was Blue Lotus, which contains psychoactive properties, though its effects are much milder in contrast. Nevertheless, it possesses unique characteristics that, in my opinion, could prove beneficial to those who suffer with restlessness and anxiety.

In this month’s article, we’re focusing on the origins and effects of Blue Lotus and how you can make your own Blue Lotus mocktail at home.

What is Blue Lotus?

Blue Lotus, also known as Nymphaea caerulea, is a water lily that is native to Egypt and other parts of North Africa. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine and spiritual practices, and is sometimes utilized for its psychoactive effects. Blue Lotus is not typically considered a potent psychedelic substance like LSD or psilocybin, but it does contain psychoactive compounds, the main two being apomorphine and nuciferine. Apomorphine has been studied for its potential benefits in treating neurological disorders and is known to have a soothing, calming effect. Nuciferine, on the other hand, is an alkaloid associated with feelings of tranquility and relaxation. Together, these compounds give Blue Lotus its characteristic mood-enhancing and calming properties. Some even use Blue Lotus as a natural alternative to prescription sedatives.

What is Blue Lotus Used for?

The most typical reasons people ingest Blue Lotus include:

Relaxation and stress relief: Blue Lotus is often used for relaxation and as a sleep aid. Some people drink it as a tea or smoke the dried flowers to help with insomnia or anxiety.
Improved mood and emotional well-being: The mild psychoactive effects of Blue Lotus may produce mood-enhancing effects. Some people claim it brings about a sense of peace, joy, and well-being. Some people also report experiencing a sense of euphoria and vivid dreams after using Blue Lotus.
Aphrodisiac effects: In addition to its reputed use as a love potion, Blue Lotus has been utilized as a traditional solution for issues like erectile dysfunction. This might be attributed to the compound apomorphine, which has shown promise in research for addressing ED issues.

What are the Potential Side Effects of Blue Lotus?

Using Blue Lotus can lead to several side effects, including drowsiness, breathing issues, potential allergies, interactions with other medications, stomach discomfort, and even mild hallucinations, especially when taken in large amounts. Always consult with your doctor before starting Blue Lotus or any new supplement to ensure it’s safe based on your current medications and health conditions.

What is the Dosage for Blue Lotus?

The dosage of Blue Lotus can vary widely based on the form it’s being used in and the desired effects. It’s often consumed as a tea, in which case about 5 grams of dried flowers are typically steeped per cup. However, dosages can be lower or higher depending on individual sensitivity and tolerance.

If you’re using Blue Lotus extract, dosages are typically much lower due to its concentrated nature. Many suggest starting with just a few drops and slowly increasing the dosage if necessary.

Remember, everyone’s body responds differently to different substances, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always start with a small dose to see how your body reacts.

The initial effects of Blue Lotus are typically felt within 20 minutes and might include gentle euphoria, relaxation and groundedness.

Where to Find Blue Lotus Tincture?

Blue Lotus can be found at various locations, including online marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, herbal and health stores, specialty tea shops, and online retailers that specialize in traditional medicinal plants. Also, holistic and natural healing centers often carry Blue Lotus.

Functional Mocktail with Blue Lotus

When it came to conjuring up a standout Blue Lotus mocktail, one person in particular popped into my head: remarkable culinary maestro, Megan Price. Meg is the proud owner of True Heart Chef services, a distinguished venture based in Las Vegas, where she uses her culinary skills to create unforgettable terpine-focused meals infused with cannabis. She’s also a cannabis chef for Lady Led Collabs and creates the Provisions edibles line at Green Therapeutics. With a bachelor’s degree in culinary management and classical French training, she has been shaping her craft in professional kitchens since the age of 16.

Meg has a special knack for incorporating various forms of cannabis into her meals, from dabs to flower to edibles. Her unique approach involves using the same strain throughout the entire meal, crafting a unified culinary experience. And it doesn’t stop there. She goes to great lengths to enhance the terpene profile of these masterful meals, like using lemon to highlight limonene, or rosemary to complement the spicy notes of caryophyllene.

Meg’s ultimate goal is to elevate cannabis beyond its usual confines, and to showcase it as an integral part of the gourmet dining experience. With her innovative approach to infusing cannabis in haute cuisine, I couldn’t think of a better person to craft a tantalizing Blue Lotus mocktail.

As expected, Meg did not disappoint. In fact, she saw my Blue Lotus challenge and raised me a double dose of anti-anxiety by adding butterfly pea flower tea to the mix.

Fun Fact: Did you know that butterfly pea flower’s scientific name is Clitoria ternatea? Like us, you might also find that humorous, until you realize that its namesake is due to the fact that the blossom resembles the shape of female genitalia, then it becomes HILARIOUS because we’re all completely immature. (Seriously, go Google it right now.)

What makes this mocktail even MORE magical is that, upon adding in a shot of sour mix, the butterfly pea flower tea changes color right before your eyes, from dark, inky blue to a beautiful deep purple. This fascinating transformation is due to a neat little science trick involving pH levels.

You see, the butterfly pea flower tea is sensitive to changes in pH, which is a measure of how acidic or basic something is. The tea itself is more basic, which gives it that beautiful blue color. But when you add the sour mix, which is more acidic, it changes the pH of the drink. The flower reacts to this change, and voila! You get that stunning shift to purple. It’s like a mini science experiment in your glass, adding another layer of fun to this magical mocktail.

The end result is a rather stunning drink that mimics the Vegas desert at dusk, hence, we’re calling it the Sin City Sunset.

Sin City Sunset Mocktail

Makes 1

Ingredients:

1 ml Blue Lotus Tincture
2 oz Butterfly Pea Flower tea (if using powder instead of steeping whole flowers, about 1/8tsp to 2oz water)
2 oz simple syrup
Ice
1 egg white
1 oz sour mix
Lemon (optional) for garnish
Fresh thyme sprig (optional) for garnish

Steps:

Note: If you’re feeling fancy, Chef Meg recommends replacing the simple syrup with 1 oz ginger syrup and 1 oz thyme syrup to enhance the complexity of the drink and make it really feel like a nice cocktail. To make these, boil equal parts sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, then steep your thyme or fresh sliced ginger in the water until it’s as flavorful as you want. Strain and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
In a cocktail shaker, combine the Blue Lotus Tincture, 2oz Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, simple syrup and ice.
In a small bowl, crack your egg, and separate the egg white from the yolk. Save the yolk for another use (like tomorrow’s breakfast!) and add the egg white to the shaker.
Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously until foamy, about 2 minutes.
Pour the mix into a martini (or similar) glass, leaving a little room for more liquid.
Pour in just 1 oz of the sour mix and watch the color change!
Garnish, optionally, with a slice of lemon and a sprig of thyme.

Disclaimer: Using real egg white in cocktails can create a wonderful foamy texture and give the drink a silky feel. Egg whites not only make your drink look fantastic, but they also soften the tanginess of sour mixes and give your drink a lighter touch. Risks of consuming egg whites in cocktails are extremely minimal, but there’s still a risk. Use clean, fresh pasteurized eggs, cartoned egg white, or substitute with aquafaba.

About the Author:

Jaden Rae is a Las Vegas resident and best-selling author of the Microdosing Guide And Journal. She hosts a free online community at MagicandGlow.com and provides tools to enhance emotional well-being, find meaning, create magic, nourish souls and enrich lives. Jaden has been featured on the Today Show, The Early Show, Martha Stewart Radio, Fox Business News and more. You can find her on Instagram @magic.and.glow