When friends visit the garden in the summer, they are treated to a treat for the eyes and the taste buds when I pour a glass of iced butterfly pea flower tea. The dried flowers may not look like much when they come from the herb shop, but these beautiful blue flowers are soul food in the garden and in the cup. Learn how to make a cup of butterfly pea flower tea, all the amazing health benefits, and why I can’t stop enjoying this truly blue flower.
You may have seen this word on some trendy bar and eatery menus. Many chefs and bartenders have recently discovered a love for this word. blue electric flower and it’s fun to use it in food and drinks.
I pretty much consider butterfly pea flower tea to be a unicorn drink. The end result is usually a bright blue drink that will wow anyone who takes a sip. After all, you eat and drink with your eyes first!
The vibrant blue color from steeping the flowers in tea looks more like it comes from food coloring than the herb, but the anthocyanins in it become transparent when you Add acidic lemon juice and it will turn another eye-catching color: purple!
While many people use flowers solely for their edible dyeing qualities, they also have many health benefits and traditional uses. Let’s learn more about this truly amazing plant.
Meet the blue pea flower
Butterfly pea flowers come from a plant with the scientific name clitoris ternatea. And yes, it is so named because it resembles a part of the female body. Some people also know this plant as Asian pigeonwings.
Belonging to the Fabaceae family (legumes and peas), this is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant. The flowers are bright blue with yellow spots, although some are white. They are often grown as ornamental plants for their dyeing properties.
While the butterfly pea flower may be a trendy drink, it has been around for a long time. The plant is native to Southeast Asia and can be found in many places such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Its flowers and dye are popular in Thai and Malaysian cuisine, often used in sticky rice desserts. Glutinous rice flour and pudding. Malaysians also use it to make dishes. Kerabu Ricea type of green rice. Overall, this flower is appreciated primarily for its blue color rather than its flavor.
In India, the butterfly pea flower is considered sacred and is part of daily puja rituals. The plant is also traditionally used for dyeing, cosmetics, and cooking.
However, what this plant is best known for is butterfly flower tea!
Benefits of butterfly pea flowers
I have become obsessed with butterfly pea flower tea. I drink it hot and cold, on its own, and in other drinks like delicious cocktails or lemonade. And lucky for me, this plant is more than just a blue beauty.
Like other blue foods, butterfly pea flowers are Rich in anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that we most commonly find in blueberries and red cabbage. These antioxidants are thought to be beneficial in reducing inflammation, improving heart health, and may even help improve mood.
Some people consider butterfly pea flowers to be a natural brain tonic. This means that it may help with cognitive function. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine uses this flower for its calming and memory enhancing effects.
Some people use the flower as natural paracetamol (acetaminophen) because it has fever-reducing properties. It mimics paracetamol by provide pain relief and helps reduce fever. Balinese people use the flower to treat eye diseases.
Overall, this is a very safe edible flower with few side effects. You can safely drink butterfly pea tea every day, although pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor first. Keep in mind that consuming too many flowers can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Butterfly pea flower tea
Why not start your day with electric blue? Traditionally known in Thailand as nam dok anchan, Butterfly pea flower tea is used as a welcome drink in hotels and spas or as a bedtime drink in most homes.This drink is made from butterfly pea flowers and lemongrass, with optional flavors of honey, lemon, mint, cinnamon, ginger and passion fruit.
An herbal tea, caffeine-free and can be enjoyed in the morning or evening, hot or cold. The flavor of butterfly pea flowers is more earthy and woody.It’s like green tea even though it’s herbal. However, when used on its own, it’s very mild and barely noticeable. It’s just for show!
Like any herbal tea, you can steep the whole flower to get a bright green color. The longer it soaks, the darker the color will be.
How to change the color of butterfly pea tea
One of the most amazing things about this tea is that it can change color dramatically. As I mentioned, the flowers get their blue color from anthocyanins. When steeped in water, they turn the water a natural, vibrant blue.
However, you can easily change the color of your tea to purple by adding a little lemon juice. Anything acidic will change the pH and therefore the color, just like hydrangeas!
You can even use these flowers to do a soil pH test at home. I have a version of this test in my book Garden Alchemy, using cabbage water. Add a spoonful of soil to the water and stir, it will change color depending on your pH level. Alchemy is awesome!
You can also add hibiscus leaves to turn the tea red. Many bartenders love to experiment with these interesting color-changing properties, creating all sorts of bright drinks. Try creating your own color-changing cocktail or drink.
You can even freeze them into ice cubes and add them to lemonade for a refreshing treat.See how the color changes as the ice melts.. This could be a fun thing to do with marble!
Use of butterfly pea flower tea
To use dyes in recipes, you can Boil the flowers to get the color. The flowers will bloom in the water, but you must continue boiling until most of the color of the flowers disappears.
You will know when they are ripe by lifting the flower and squeezing it gently. If no more color comes out, it is ready to eat. You can now use this bright blue water for dyeing, making drinks or cooking.
Where to buy butterfly pea flowers?
You probably won’t find these gorgeous flowers on your average grocery store shelf. You can buy this flower at specialty food stores or online. They can come in whole dried flower buds or powder form.
Another solution is to grow them yourself! Although native to tropical Asia, you can grow butterfly pea flowers in zones 9-10. They prefer full sun but can tolerate cool, moist climates. However, they must be frost-free. And since they are climbers, you will want to make sure they have something to climb on, such as a trellis.
Let me know if you try growing this gorgeous flower. I’d love to see how it grows where you live! And if you love this color as much as I do, you’ll love this post with 46 vibrant blue flowers you can grow at home!
Frequently asked questions about butterfly pea flowers
This tree, clitoris ternateaare a little hard to find. Your best bet is probably to order seeds online from a reputable source. Ferri Seeds, based in Ontario, sells to the United States and Canada.
Butterfly pea flowers themselves do not have a strong flavor when brewed into tea. They have a light, woody flavor and are often combined with lemongrass, mint, lemon, and honey.
Butterfly pea flowers do not contain caffeine, so they will not keep you awake. However, they are not specifically known as a sleep-inducing herb like chamomile.
More articles about edible flowers:
Butterfly pea flower tea
Create a beautiful blue drink or naturally color food with butterfly pea flowers.
Ration: first serve
Calories: tencalories
- Butterfly Pea Flower
- Hot water
- Lemonade optional
- Hibiscus leaves optional
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Make butterfly pea flower tea by steeping the petals in hot water. Add honey, lemon, mint, cinnamon, ginger or passion fruit for a traditional flavor of your choice.
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To change the color from blue to purple, add a little lemon juice. To change the color to red, add hibiscus leaves.
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To use as a dye, heat the flowers in a pot of boiling water. Steep until most of the color is gone. You can test this by taking one flower out, squeezing it gently, and making sure no more color comes out.
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Use the dye as a base ingredient for drinks or in cooking to naturally color foods blue.
Serve: firstcup | Calories: tencalories
