I grew up in Puducherry, in an Ashram. And the Guru, there, used to name flowers. The Butterfly Pea she called 'Radha's consciousness'. I've always loved the flower but, until recently, it did not flower in my garden. And, though it flowered well last year, it has not put forth blossoms as yet this year. When the plant decides to grace me with blossoms I plan to make a blue drink with it.
When I was in Malaysia for a while, some years back, I found that some Malaysian sweets had a blue or green colour. The green, I imagine, comes from the pandan leaf. And I recently learned that the blue might be from the Butterfly Pea flower. I grew some in my garden using seeds I collected on walks.
Not only is this flower used in many foods but it appears to have many benefits as well.
Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants offers very detailed information, not only about the plant, but also about its various therapeutic uses. I shall certainly refer to it time and again as this is a plant that grows easily almost everywhere in India.
The white reminds me of rice and it's time to tell you about blue rice!
How to Thicken Your Hair with Organic Butterfly Pea Flower
Flowers are a frequent theme for paintings and drawings. And quite a few blossoms provide dyes. Apparently, you can paint with butterfly pea teas!
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| Clitoria ternatea, Adityamadhav83, Wikimedia Commons |
When I was in Malaysia for a while, some years back, I found that some Malaysian sweets had a blue or green colour. The green, I imagine, comes from the pandan leaf. And I recently learned that the blue might be from the Butterfly Pea flower. I grew some in my garden using seeds I collected on walks.
Food...Known as bunga telang, in Malay cooking, an aqueous extract is used to colour glutinous rice ... by adding a few buds of this flower in a pot while cooking white rice will add bluish tint on the rice which is served with other side dishes and such meal is called nasi kerabu. In Thailand, a syrupy blue drink is made called nam dok anchan ..., it is sometimes consumed with a drop of sweet lime juice to increase acidity and turn the juice into pink-purple.
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| Blue butterfly pea tea turns purple when acid is added. Libera_knabino, Wikimedia Commons |
In Burmese and Thai cuisines, the flowers are also dipped in batter and fried. Butterfly pea flower tea is made from the ternatea flowers and dried lemongrass and changes color depending on what is added to the liquid, with lemon juice turning it purple.
The flowers have more recently been used as a botanical in a colour-changing gin. Blue in the bottle, this turns pink when mixed with a carbonated mixer such as tonic water.Traditional medicine
... it is very good for children suffering from developmental problems of the brain and problems with impaired cognitive function.
... it helps in the detoxiãcation and all round cleansing of the brain and its associated structures. It is also good for improving voice quality and problems of throat
Now, I have a hoarse voice over the past so many years and I will see if this flower has the power to help my throat.
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| Herbal tea served in Southeast Asia, Libera_knabino, Wikimedia Commons |
Though Butterfly Pea teas are now available, they look dreadfully expensive. The flower is fairly easy to grow and very pretty too. With all its benefits, it would be wonderful to have it handy for use. And blue tea, whether or not the claims are right, will surely cheer up most cases of the blues!
Blue Butterfly Pea Flower and Basil Seeds Drink
COLOR CHANGING BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER TEA
Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants offers very detailed information, not only about the plant, but also about its various therapeutic uses. I shall certainly refer to it time and again as this is a plant that grows easily almost everywhere in India.Blue Butterfly Pea Flower and Basil Seeds Drink
Clitoria ternatea - white, uploaded by Elitre, author - Ton Rulkens from Mozambique
Nasi Kerabu
While the flower does not impart much taste, the colour is delightful and, of course, it lends itself to sweets better for some reason. Related to colour?
I'm also tempted by the concept of flower popsicles, since summer is now at its hottest:
Blue Ombre Edible Flower Popsicles
As for the beauty enhancing prospects of the plant, I could not find any good DIY articles but I suppose one can use the flowers as paste or, dried, as powder. I do have a video for a face mask and one for hair care:How to Thicken Your Hair with Organic Butterfly Pea Flower
Painting with Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
As I mentioned in the beginning, the flower was called Radha's Consciousness. So I leave you with this:
litoria tea in a potClitoria tea in a pot
3 comments:
The food looks yummy.
Natural extracts are good for the health.
But, such blue drinks like the 'Blue Lagoon' etc are priced higher.
Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for visiting and reading Dr. Anita Sabat. Yes, the drinks are costly. That's why my post encourages the use of the flowers grown in your garden or picked on a walk...
Thank you so much, VBLP Tech Solutions
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