Herbal Spotlight: Butterfly Pea Flower, About & Uses

Butterfly Pea Flowers [Clitoria ternatea] provide gorgeous natural color, as well as many benefits for the mind and body. Add some natural Botanical Blue to your routine & brighten things up as we explore these amazing flowers & their benefits, & their uses.

 More than just a pretty face, Butterfly Pea flowers are a powerful Herbal Ally! Native to Southeast Asia, these flowers have been used for centuries as a memory enhancer, brain booster, anti-stress & calmative agent; they are staples of Chinese & Ayurvedic medicine. Clitoria ternatea are considered to be adaptogenic. Adaptogens are substances that work to help the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, chemical or biological, & to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. They are packed full of antioxidants, flavonoids,& peptides, as well as anti-inflammatory compounds, particularly anthocyanin, which are believed to support cardiovascular health. 

They also contain catechins, which are said to be instrumental in burning belly fat, aiding weight loss as well as helping to control blood sugar. Drinking butterfly-pea flower tea is purported to rev up your metabolism, making the body burn more calories.

Butterfly pea flowers are also traditionally used cosmetically to stimulate hair growth, & to support glowing skin & graceful aging. The compound anthocyanin is known to increase blood circulation & helps to maintain a healthy scalp. It also aids in strengthening the hair follicles from within, resulting in increased hair growth. In fact, a 2012 study found these flowers to be more effective than the commonly prescribed minoxidil at promoting hair growth. Additionally, the flowers have been used in Thailand for centuries to make a rinse for the hair that is said to keep the dark color of the hair longer! They are considered one of nature's most effective ingredients for promoting hair growth & darkening hair naturally.
​I am currently working on a new SLS-free shampoo bar using these gems! [STAY TUNED!]

Butterfly pea flowers are most often used as a tea & have an earthy-green flavor similar to that of green tea. The dried flowers, when steeped, release a deep indigo-blue color. Due to this, they are also often used as a natural food coloring agent in Malasian, Thai, & Burmese cooking.
​Most interestingly, this color is pH sensitive, producing a wide variety of shades ranging from fuchsia to bright blue-green as it is exposed to different ingredient’s pHs! 

This makes the herb VERY popular for cocktails!  As anyone who knows me would expect, I have had quite a ball playing with the effects & use them frequently in the drinks I craft at Cupacity. 

​ I have also created an adaptogenic tea blend which contains them called Botanical Bliss. It is comprised of 15 different herbs & spices, including tulsi, elderflower, & nettle, & many of the ingredients are wild-foraged. It is available exclusively at Cupacity Cafe & can be ordered by the cup or bulk to take home.

Enjoy a pot at Cupacity & literally drink in the deep blue -- Or add a slice of lemon to turn yours fuschia!

​We also offer individual herbs, including butterfly pea flowers, for sale bulk here in store & online.

The flowers can be steeped directly in all liquids, not just hot water, & the color is sure to thrill the child [or child-at-heart] in your life. Using them to create true blue milk is particularly fun for Star Wars fans. The pH color shift is really fun to play with as well – Simply add a slice of lemon to your tea & watch it go violently fuschia! 

Steeping Butterfly Pea Flowers In Milk

More than just the sheer strangeness of the colors, remember you are getting the herbal benefits of the butterfly pea flowers. This Herbal Ally provides so many benefits for mind & body. It is definitely worth adding to your own tea selection or Herbal Apothecary. 
I hope you enjoyed this look at these amazing flowers. Let me know how you like to use Butterfly Flowers & what color combo you create! Keep your eyes peeled for some very special skin& hair care products I am whipping up that will also feature this gem coming soon…  Until next time--Stay safe &  #StopAndEatTheFlowers ​