Butterfly Pea Blossom

Butterfly Pea Blossom - Yes, The Flower Is As Enchanting As It Sounds!

The rains make the trees swell and move in close, so close that a hike through the woods can leave your skin damp from the wet trails of leaves whisking across it, drenching you in a waterfall from rain moments or hours past. 

If you happen to be hiking through pine forests in the early summer where the needles are densely perched atop the tall timbers, dappling the ground with sunlight you will meet trailing stems that will cover the ground entirely with long, pointed, three-lobed leaves, some a wispy thin green, others resembling their protective sister ivy. The leaves, sometimes pointed and angular, are akin to the leaves of faerie folklore and calls to the imagination woodland elves and mystical creatures; it should come as no surprise then that the flowers born from this vine would also hold the same appeal. 

The Butterfly Pea Blossom is a sweet and delicate perennial flower. The soft petals come in hues of white, pink,  lavender and deep violet and are shaped like its namesake, a resting butterfly. During the flowering season, the vine is known to bloom daily but are ephemeral in nature purportedly lasting only half of the day. The flower holds a soft bulb atop its petals and along with its aromatics, is the most identifiable marker that you have in fact encountered a Butterfly Pea Blossom.

In Southeast Asia, the native home to the flower, the blossoms are used as a natural dye for desserts, rice dishes, noodles or can simply be dipped in batter and fried. The real shining platform for the flower though, is when it is added to beverages or steeped as a herbal tea. The flower’s deep purple and blue tones transform water and milk into richer hues. Then, if an acid is added, those hues change color to a purple-pink concoction, right before your eyes. 

At Shanti Elixirs, we have incorporated the sweet pea blossom into our Jun and created the sharable Butterfly Pea Blossom Fine Dining bottle. Adding the flower to our delicious Jun body wasn’t enough for us, we married lemongrass, pandan, white tea, ginger and cardamom to enhance the subtle vanilla notes naturally present in the bloom to leave you pronouncing squeals of yumminess to the world. Not only is the beverage delicious, the health benefits that it offers is enough to fill several pages. 

Butterfly Pea Blossom is purported to promote healthy vision and skin by offering a good dose of Vitamin A & C. The flower is a rich source of Potassium, Zinc and Iron which all help to combat free radical damage, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. Its anticancer properties can help prevent the growth of cancer cells  and lowers stress and anxiety which can help improve mental energy and focus and can improve mood. It is said to slow the aging of the brain and can help to heal broken and damaged skin. And that’s just some of the benefits of the pea blossom flower. Lemongrass has detoxification effects, may help to lower cholesterol, aids in digestive health, can relieve insomnia and can help with respiratory health. Pandan helps to support oral health, cardiovascular health, acts as a mild natural pain reliever, can increase appetite and can help with blood pressure control. Cardamom, which belongs to the ginger family, is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, improves digestive health, regulates blood sugar and aids in mind relaxation. Then there are the benefits associated with Ginger, like helping to ease flatulence, reducing arthritis pain, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial to name a few. 

These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA. 

Needless to say, whether the Butterfly Pea Blossom flower is being enjoyed for its aesthetics, crawling up the trellis in your garden or ingested for its delicious flavors and natural health benefits, it is sure to bring with it a surprising and enchanting experience. For added whimsy, gather your friends and loved ones in a lush garden, and share our Butterfly Pea Blossom Jun over ice. For added bonus, bring out those blossom dusted blue tea cakes you whipped up earlier and beckon the garden faeries to join you for your afternoon tea.