Everyone remembers their first time.
A moment of mesmerisation. Caught in the intensity of passion, colour. A risk on the lips and a sip at first, and then some more.
If you've had it before, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Settle down, people. We're talking about tea here.
Butterfly pea flower tea.
Alone, a glorious show, nothing more.
Partnered correctly, a perfect union of beauty and substance.
What is Butterfly Pea Flower?
Butterfly pea is a flower from Southeast Asia, also known as Asian Pigeonwings, that comes from the plant called clitoria ternatea and is famous for its vibrant royal blue petals.
Butterfly pea is uniquely generous amongst flowers, in that it doesn't just keep its ultra-intense colour to itself.
Add boiling water and the petals' blue blood will seep into the water as the liquor is transformed into a display of majestic royalty.
So intense is the colour, it's used increasingly in cosmetics or as a natural food colouring, and textiles.
Butterfly pea flower is a naturally caffeine-free tea.
What does Butterfly Pea Flower Taste Like?
Truth be told, the flavour of Butterfly Pea isn't much. Some describe it as an earthy flavour, or woody. Others liken it to a light green tea with a gently sweet aroma.
Our opinion?
Butterfly Pea doesn't taste great, but that's not what it's about.
Butterfly Pea is all about show.
And who doesn't love a good show, old chap?
How wonderful to be mesmerised by the beauty of a fine performance.
How to Make Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
If you're just brewing butterfly pea flowers and nothing more (we assume you're sitting down ready with your tub of popcorn), place four flower buds into a mug and add boiling hot water.
Brew for at least five minutes and remove the blue flower buds from the hot water.
For a little added extra drama, add a squeeze of lemon juice to your brew and watch as the blue colour transforms into a deep purple hue.
Allow your mind to be blown.
If you want to enjoy a good flavour too, we recommend looking at a solid partnership between Butterfly Pea and some other more grounded ingredients. Tielka's Cerulean Calm is coming soon, a beautiful union of butterfly pea with green tea and lavender.
What is Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Good For?
Asides from a mind-blowingly good show, Butterfly Pea tea has some fascinating health benefits.
Buttefly Pea is jam-packed with ternatins and potent antioxidants.
Ternatins are anthocyanin compounds that give Butterfly Pea its vibrant hue. Some test-tube studies show ternatins can alleviate inflammation and prevent cancer cell growth (1, 2).
And we all know about antioxidants.
Specifically, Butterfly Pea contains the antioxidants Kaemphferol, p-Coumaric acid, and Delphinidin-3,5-glucoside, which are known to cause cell death in cancer cells and protect against disease (3, 4, 5).
It is also associated with improved skin elasticity, skin hydration, and improved health of hair follicles.
Where to Buy Butterfly Pea Flower Tea?
Butterfly Pea is the featured ingredient of Tielka's Cerulean Calm, which is coming soon to Tielka!
Cerulean Calm is a beautiful blend of single-origin green tea, lavender and butterfly pea.
It is the perfect tea to start your workday with a clear and calm mind. Green tea will provide you with clarity of mind, lavender will calm any niggling anxiety, and butterfly pea will add beauty to the moment.
The Blue Colour-Changing Tea Obsession that will Blow Your Mind