-
Also known as: Blue Pea, Butterfly Pea, Asian Pigeonwings, Blue Bell Vine, Bunga Telang (Malay), Aparajita (Sanskrit).
-
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea (A tropical twinning vine in the Fabaceae family, native to equatorial Asia).
-
What it’s known for: Its extraordinary, 100% natural cobalt-blue pigment and its "shape-shifting" color when it meets acidity. It offers a very mild, woody, and earthy flavor, similar to a light green tea.
-
How to prepare: Steep 4–6 whole dried flowers in hot water (90°C) for 3–5 minutes to create a deep sapphire infusion. To see the "magic," add a squeeze of lemon or lime to watch the blue instantly transform into a vibrant royal purple.
-
How it’s used: A staple in Thai "Anchan" tea and Malaysian "Nasi Kerabu" (blue rice); a favorite for "mood-changing" cocktails and mocktails; and a premium botanical for natural hair rinses and DIY skincare.
