Clitoria ternatea, the butterfly pea, is native to the Indonesian island of Ternate, though its range extends across tropical Asia, Africa, and the Americas, thriving in humid, tropical regions as a climbing vine with a wide ethnobotanical application: food, dye, and traditional medicine. We grow a variety of shades of colour of this flowering vine and sell it fresh, dried and processed into beverages.
Culinary Use
FOOD COLOURING
The flowers are traditionally used in the Nusantara region to colour rice and kueh. We use both fresh and dried flowers to colour our syrups and beverages.
GARNISH, SALAD INGREDIENT
Flowers add a nice colour accent as a garnish to dishes and drinks or in baked goods - flowers can be torn or julienned for smaller accents. They also work well mixed into salads.
BEVERAGES
Butterfly Pea Tea | Butterfly Pea Syrup | Fermented Butterfly Pea + Thai basil + Lime
The flower imparts a deep blue colour to liquids which we blend with peppermint to make a tea and a botanical syrup that also has cooling digestive properties. The fermented beverage turns purple as it builds acidity and i saccented with other South east Asian Flavours: Thai Basil and Calimansi Lime.
Wellness Uses
No large controlled clinical trials in humans have conclusively validated these effects. Traditional uses in Ayurveda and folk medicine are widespread but vary regionally.
Antioxidant Activity
FBoth leaves and fowers are rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols, showing strong antioxidant properties that help combat oxidative stress and protect cells from free radical damage.1
Anti-inflammatory & Wound Healing
Flower extracts exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and enhance wound healing in cell-based studies.2
Antidiabetic Potential
Studies report that flower extracts can inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), potentially supporting glycemic control.3
Hypolipidemic and Cardiometabolic Support
Flower extracts may help lower cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce lipid accumulation.4
Antimicrobial Effects
Some extracts show antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro.5
Neuroprotective & Nootropic Effects
Traditional uses and some animal models support benefits for memory and nervous system protection.6
Antimicrobial and Gastrointestinal Support
Leaf extracts show antimicrobial potential and have been used in traditional systems for wound healing, gastrointestinal aid, and anti-inflammatory effects.7