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butterfly pea flower

whole
4.8
Based on 103 reviews
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refill
0.3 oz
$3
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1.5 oz
$9
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VARIANTS
whole
powder
When infused, these dark blue dried flowers lend their vibrant color to beverages, puddings and gelatinous rice dishes. Slightly earthy, but mostly unassuming in flavor, butterfly pea flower infusions have become popular in adding visual pop to teas, cocktails, and other alcohol infusions.

Adding lemon juice, or carbonated water will change the pH of a butterfly pea flower infusion, and therefore its color. Your concoction will change from brilliant blue to pink-purple.

In Thailand and Vietnam an after dinner tea is made with steeped butterfly pea flower tea, honey, and lemon. Called nam dok anchan in Thai, this purple brew is also sometimes served iced at spas or hotels to welcome guests.
QUICK INFO
butterfly pea flower , whole
INGREDIENTS
Butterfly pea flowers
AROMA
Grassy sweet
CHARACTERISTICS
Dried butterfly pea flower is papery and delicate with deep blue-purple petals held by a light green calyx.
USAGE
Primarily used as a natural food colorant in beverages like tea or cocktails. The infusion of these flowers is a bewitching blue hue.
PLANT PART
flower
PROCESSING / FORM
whole
BOTANICAL NAME
Clitoria ternatea
ORIGIN
China
BOTANICAL NAME
Clitoria ternatea
AKA
Asian pigeonwings
bluebellvine
blue clitoria
blue pea vine
butterfly pea
cordofan pea
Native to tropical parts of Southeast Asia Clitoria ternatea is a climbing vine in the legume family. Its botanical name derives from its flower's purported resemblance to female genitalia. The color of its flowers, however, is a vivid blue, owing to the anthocyanins present in all tissues of this plant. It is this property that is often exploited as a natural coloring for use in beverages and food.

Even more exciting is the dramatic shift in color the compound displays when its pH is altered by something acidic, such as lemon juice. A butterfly pea flower infusion will turn from its brilliant blue to an impressive purple. For this reason it is a favorite in teas, and in showy cocktails.
USAGE HINT

Make a simple syrup of butterfly pea flowers ahead of time to use in cocktails or dessert syrups. Flavored simple syrups in an airtight container made with equal parts sugar and water can last for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, with exact freshness dates dependent on your process and ingredients.

QUICK FACT

Used in Malaysian funeral dishes to add blue which—along with white and black—is a color of mourning.

 

Fresh From Origin

Native to the tropical regions of Asia, the Butterfly Pea Flower is known for its strikingly deep blue color. The flower is used as a natural food coloring and is commonly used to tint rice dishes in Malaysia. In Thailand, a blue drink called "nam dok anchan" is sometimes consumed with a drop of sweet lime juice which turns the drink into a pink-purple color.
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4.8
whole petals
Dried rose petals add a rich floral flavor, much like the scent of fresh roses.
0.07 oz - PORTION$0.50
0.2 oz - REFILL$2
1.2 oz - REFILL$6
0.07 oz - PORTION $0.50
4.9
chopped
Lively and zesty with tangy lemon notes.
0.09 oz - PORTION$0.50
1.2 oz - JAR$4
1.2 oz - REFILL$3
6 oz - REFILL$9
0.09 oz - PORTION $0.50
4.7
powders: hibiscus, butterfly pea, mango
natural food color set
Pinch jars of natural food coloring powders: mango juice powder, hibiscus flower powder, and butterfly pea flower powder in a box made for three.
4.9
juice
powder
Mango juice powder is a fine, bright yellow powder that can be used to give a tropical fruit flavor to foods or as a natural food coloring.
0.25 oz - PORTION$0.50
2 oz - JAR$5
2 oz - REFILL$4
8 oz - REFILL$13
0.25 oz - PORTION $0.50
4.8
powder
A natural food colorant, Butterfly pea flower powder can be used in many sweet treats, giving them an alluring vibrant blue hue.
0.25 oz - PORTION$0.50
2 oz - JAR$7
2 oz - REFILL$8
8 oz - REFILL$19
0.25 oz - PORTION $0.50
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REVIEWS (103)
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