What is Butterfly pea flower powder?

Butterfly pea powder is a natural purple and blue pigment used in drink and food production. The powder itself is made of dried Butterfly Pea flowers, scientifically known as Clitoria ternatea and commonly known as Asian pigeonwings, blue pea, bluebellvine, cordofan pea and Darwin pea.

In Southeast Asia people use these flowers to make tea also known as blue matcha. Fresh blue flowers are gently collected, their impurities are removed, and then they’re sun-dried and crushed into powder. Blue butterfly pea powder does not contain calories, and its dark blue color comes from naturally present anthocyanins, which not only produce a beautiful pigment but also act as antioxidants. In Thailand, they make a blue drink commonly known as dok anchan – a wonderful brain boosting herb native to tropical equatorial Asia.

Butterfly pea powder tea is another amazing drink worth mentioning. It is prepared from the flowers of ternate and dried lemongrass. Blue Butterfly Pea Flower is a culinary chameleon! It changes color depending on what is added to the liquid. Just add this powder into lemon juice and it turns purple. This almost magical trick is often used by bartenders; it is in fact, mesmerizing!

People from Eastern Malaysia add a few buds of this flower while cooking white rice to achieve a bluish tinge; it is unique, beneficial and looks very attractive on the plate.

Benefits

To cut a long story short, the top benefits of butterfly pea powder are the following:

· Boosts brain health

· Lowers blood pressure

· Helps with digestion

· Serves as antidepressant

· Strengthen healthy hair growth

· Keeps skin glowing and protects it from premature aging

· Good for eyesight

· Aphrodisiac properties

· Caffeine free

· Rich in anti-inflammatory compounds

How to Use/Make

Clitoria ternatea is most often consumed as either a tea or extract, which are made with the leaves and flower petals of the plant. Look for Clitoria ternatea extract online or in some health food stores with large herbal sections.

What does butterfly pea flower taste like? It’s described as having a mild floral flavor with a touch of sweetness, similar to chamomile tea.

If you purchase blue pea tea, expect it to be a bright blue or light purple color. Look for this tea in dried form, most often from growers in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam or India.