Wholesale Butterfly pea flower

01.
A Bit of Botany

a bit of botanical information on butterfly pea flower

description
Butterfly pea flower is a perennial, deciduous evergreen vine notable for its vibrant blue flowers. Although all aerial parts of the plant are edible and consumed in Asian cuisine, the dried flowers are most commonly made into an herbal tea known as anchan or blue tea and is enjoyed hot or cold. In Thailand, the flowers are combined with lemon juice and sugar to make a purple lemonade-type beverage called nam dok anchan. They are also used to add color to rice dishes and to cakes, particularly a traditional dessert called Khanom dok anchan.

Butterfly pea flower is also a popular addition to cocktails and mocktails, the color of which is modified by altering the acidity of the beverage with lemon or lime juice (for purple) or other botanicals, such as hibiscus (for dark red).

common names
& nomenclature
Asian pigeonwings, blue ternate flower, Aprajita, bluebell vine, blue pea, butterfly pea, cordofan pea, Darwin pea, mussel shell creeper, Bunga Telang

Also known as:
Asian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, blue pea, butterfly pea, cordofan pea and Darwin pea

02.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing and harvesting

Butterfly pea flower is a popular ornamental plant that is also suited to woodland clearings and thickets. The plant prefers full sun (but will tolerate light shade) and sandy soil with good drainage. It is drought resistant but performs best with an inch of water weekly during very hot weather. First year plants require regular watering but guard against overwatering to avoid root rot. Pinch back new growth to reduce the tendency for the plant to become “leggy.” Plants are susceptible to anthracnose fungal disease (leaf spot), bacterial soft rot, white flies and spider mites.

03.
The Rest of the Story

Butterfly pea flower has grown in popularity in recent years, not only for its colorant properties but also because of its nutritional value. In addition to being a good source of vitamins A, C and E, the plant is rich in anthocyanin compounds, specifically ternatins, which demonstrate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. All parts of the plant are abundant in cyclotides, specialized peptides constructed of more than three dozen amino acids used as a defensive chemical by the plant. Cyclotides are also potent anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic and insecticidal agents. In fact, they are used in industrial insecticides.

Butterfly pea flower is also used in the cosmetic industry in many hair and skin formulations, including lotions, facial masks, shampoos and other products. The herb is valued in the cosmetic industry for its polyphenol content, compounds that prevent glycation that leads to premature aging with the breakdown of proteins in the skin by rogue sugar molecules.

04.
Where in the World

Butterfly pea flower is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia and is cultivated in North America in USDA zones 11-12.