Mom's Best Recipes
Recipe

Modern Blue Salt Trick Recipe

A cozy, modern twist on the viral blue salt trick: warm spiced milk with a calming blue swirl and a tiny pinch of salt that can make the flavor pop.

Author By Matt Campbell
4.8
A steaming mug of warm blue-tinted milk with a cinnamon stick on a cozy kitchen counter
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If you have seen the blue salt trick floating around online, you are not alone. It is part kitchen curiosity, part comfort ritual. The modern version is not about turning your pantry into a science fair. It is about using a tiny pinch of salt to make a cozy drink taste rounder, sweeter, and more satisfying, plus a blue swirl that feels a little magical in a Tuesday-night kind of way.

This is my approachable take: warm vanilla-spiced milk (dairy or non-dairy) with a calming blue tint from butterfly pea powder, then the real trick, a micro pinch of salt. Salt does not make it salty. It can make it better, like turning the volume up on vanilla and cinnamon without adding extra sugar.

Drink it as a wind-down treat, serve it to kids as a fun “blue moon milk,” or build it into a latte with espresso. No pressure, just cozy.

Butterfly pea powder and a small pinch bowl of salt next to a mug

Why It Works

  • Salt can make the sweet taste sweeter: A tiny pinch often helps reduce bitterness and brings vanilla and cinnamon forward.
  • Butterfly pea brings the blue: It adds color with a mild, earthy-tea vibe that plays nicely with warm spices.
  • Low drama, high comfort: One pot, 10 minutes, and you get a cafe-style drink at home.
  • Customizable: Make it dairy-free, add espresso, or brighten it with lemon for a purple color shift.

Pairs Well With

  • A plate of buttery shortbread cookies on a small wooden board

    Buttery shortbread cookies

  • A bowl of cinnamon sugar toast sticks stacked on a plate

    Cinnamon toast sticks

  • A small bowl of salted popcorn with a pat of melted butter

    Salted butter popcorn

  • A slice of banana bread on a plate with a smear of butter

    Classic banana bread

Storage Tips

This drink is best fresh, but you can absolutely save leftovers if you want a quick cozy refill.

  • Fridge: Cool to room temp (do not leave out for more than 2 hours), then store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator (at or below 40°F/4°C) for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: Warm gently on the stove over low heat, whisking to recombine. Or microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between. Reheat only what you plan to drink.
  • Safety note: Discard if it smells off, looks curdled, or has been repeatedly warmed and cooled.
  • Foam tip: If you like a latte vibe, hit reheated leftovers with a milk frother right before serving.
  • Color note: The blue can fade slightly over time. The flavor stays great.

Common Questions

What is the “blue salt trick,” exactly?

There are a few versions of the “blue salt trick” floating around online. In food terms, the idea is simple: a tiny pinch of salt in something lightly sweet can make the flavors taste fuller and more balanced. The “blue” part is usually a calming color from butterfly pea (or sometimes blue spirulina). This recipe is my cozy, low-drama take.

Will this taste salty?

No, not if you keep it small. Think 1/32 teaspoon or literally a scant pinch between your fingers. Also, use fine sea salt only. A pinch of coarse kosher salt can be way more salt than you think. If you can taste salt, you used too much. Add a splash more milk (and a touch more sweetener) to fix it.

What can I use if I cannot find butterfly pea powder?

You can skip it and still do the salt trick. For color, you can use a drop of natural blue food coloring. Blue spirulina works too, but it has a stronger “green smoothie” personality, so start with less and add extra vanilla.

Does butterfly pea change color with lemon?

Yes. Add a tiny squeeze of lemon and the drink shifts toward purple or pink. It is a little bit of kitchen magic. It also adds acidity, so keep it subtle unless you want that tang.

Can I make it caffeine-free?

This base is naturally caffeine-free. If you turn it into a latte with espresso, that is when caffeine enters the chat.

Is this kid-friendly?

Totally, especially with a little less spice. Just keep the salt to a tiny pinch and use warm, not hot, milk.

Any dietary notes?

It is naturally gluten-free. Use plant milk + maple syrup to keep it vegan. Honey makes it not vegan.

How sweet is this?

With 1 to 2 teaspoons sweetener, it is lightly sweet. If you want more of a dessert vibe, bump it up to 1 to 2 tablespoons, tasting as you go.

Troubleshooting: my drink is grainy, dull, or too salty

Grainy: Sift the butterfly pea powder first, or whisk longer. A frother helps a lot.

Dull color: Some brands are lighter. Add more powder in small amounts until it looks right.

Too salty: Add more milk, then rebalance with a little more vanilla or sweetener.

I love recipes that feel like a tiny life upgrade without needing a grocery run and a pep talk. The first time I tried the “salt in sweet” trick on a warm drink, I had that mid-sip pause like, wait, why is this suddenly cafe-level? Now it is my go-to when I want something cozy but not heavy. The blue swirl is just the fun part, like putting on a good playlist while you cook. Not necessary, but it makes the whole moment better.