Blue Monday

Conventional wisdom has taught us that few colors are less appetizing than blue, owing to its scarcity in nature, and especially on the dinner plate. Intuitively avoiding foods that might be moldy, poisonous, or otherwise contaminated, centuries of visual training are hard to deny when confronted with foreign fare. And yet, precisely because such comestibles are so rare, we find ourselves impossibly compelled by these vibrant sights. Splashed across Instagram like edible sapphires, blue eats and drinks dazzle as much as they confound the casual voyeur.

Blue matcha is the culprit behind this azure trend, although the name itself is rather misleading. Made from powdered butterfly pea flowers, it’s an herbal, caffeine-free tisane that shares only a similar brewing method and comparable similar notes of delicate green tea. Far more restrained than the sometimes bitter green brew, the flavor may disappoint matcha aficionados but delight those looking for a less…