The Penrose Punch

A mesmerizing, color-changing punch that mirrors the shifting realities of Inception. This drink starts as a deep, mysterious blue with butterfly pea flower tea, then a 'kick' of sharp lemon and ginger ale transforms it into a vibrant magenta, creating a spectacle as layered as the film itself.

15 min
Serves 6-8
Easy
Action

Gather these

Ingredients

8Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Bags
4 cupsHot Water
3/4 cupSugar
3 cupsCold Water
1 cupLemon, freshly juiced
2-3 cupsGinger Ale or Club Soda, chilled
1Lemon for garnish, sliced into wheels or twists

Tip: For an even more dramatic presentation, pour the punch base into glasses and allow guests to add a shot of the lemon 'kick' themselves.

Step by step

Instructions

1
In a heatproof bowl, steep the butterfly pea flower tea bags in 4 cups of hot water for 5-7 minutes. Remove the tea bags and stir in the sugar until it is completely dissolved. Let the tea concentrate cool to room temperature.
2
Pour the cooled blue tea concentrate into a large glass pitcher. Add 3 cups of cold water and stir to combine. This is your stable 'dream' base.
3
Just before you are ready to serve, pour the fresh lemon juice into the pitcher. Stir gently and watch as the 'kick' transforms the drink's color from a deep blue to a brilliant violet-magenta.
4
Fill individual glasses with ice and pour the punch until each glass is about three-quarters full.
5
Top each glass with chilled ginger ale for a fizzy lift.
6
Garnish with a lemon wheel or a tightly-coiled lemon twist to represent a spinning totem.

The Inspiration

Why this drink

This punch is inspired by the central concept of the 'kick' in Inception. The base drink represents a stable dream state—deep, blue, and mysterious. The acidic lemon juice acts as the kick, a jolt that destabilizes the dream and causes a dramatic, visible shift through the layers of reality, mirrored in the stunning color transformation.

Inception · Action

Find a Dish to Pair Start Over