About Butterfly Pea / Blue Pea
Often featured in cocktails, cosmetics, and herbal tea blends, butterfly pea flower is an ingredient well-known for its brilliant blue hue. Also known by its scientific name, Clitoria ternatea, the butterfly pea is a plant native to Asia. You may recognize it by its striking, vibrant blue flowers
The flowers are also commonly brewed into an herbal tea, often alongside ingredients like lemongrass, honey, and lemon. When the acidity of the pea flower tea changes, the color changes as well. This quality makes butterfly pea flower a popular ingredient among mixologists for specialty cocktails. Butterfly pea flowers are rich in anthocyanin compounds called ternatins, which give the plant its vibrant hue.
Benefits of Butterfly Pea Flowers
- Promotes graceful aging
Some recent studies have even shown promise for incorporating butterfly pea flowers into skincare products. Of course, the most effective way to reap the benefits is by drinking butterfly pea flower tea, which contains many plant-based a n t i o x i d a n t s that naturally help you age gracefully!
- Supports glowing skin
Butterfly pea flowers are of interest in the skincare community because of their ability to support graceful aging with a n t i o x i d a n t s. While some flowers and botanicals have components that are irritating to skin, all components of butterfly pea flowers from the root to the flowers themselves can be used for topical skincare.
- Strengthen Hair
The flower contains a potent bioflavonoid called anthocyanin, that increases blood flow to the scalp. This increased blood flow leads to the strengthening of hair follicles, hair growth, and naturally darkens hair, reducing the growth of grey hair.
- Aid in Digestion
Butterfly Pea tea is also used for treating the digestive system. Its a n t i-i n f l a m m a t o r y properties soothe stomach muscles, alleviating nausea and indigestion. It has anthelmintic properties which help p r e v e n t the growth of h a r m f u l b a c t e r i a. Like many teas that have a diuretic nature, Butterfly Pea tea can also aid in weight loss by relieving the body’s digestive system from unnecessary waste and replacing it with a n t i o x i d a n t s.
How to Brew Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Butterfly pea flower tea is an herbal tea, or a tisane drink, that naturally turns blue when steeped in water. See how to make this fun drink and how to make it change color.
STEP 1: Boil water. Water quality is important with tea. The better the water, the better the cup of tea. Use filtered water if possible.
STEP 2: Warm up teapot. Pour some hot water into the teapot and swirl it around a bit to warm it up. Discard water. When the teapot is warm, the tea won’t cool down as fast while it’s brewing.
STEP 3: Put butterfly pea flower tea into teapot and add hot water.
STEP 4: Cover teapot and steep for 5 minutes.
STEP 5: Strain butterfly pea flowers and pour hot tea into a teacup. You can add lemon slices into your drink and watch the color change from blue to purple.
