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| photo by wikipedia |
Blue butterfly pea flowers, or Asian pigeonwings, are a popular ingredient in herbal teas and used as an all-natural food dye. The scientific name is Clitoria ternatea. In Southeast Asian civilizations, it has a long and storied history of use in cooking and medicine. Here's some additional background on the blue butterfly pea flower:
1. Environmental Phytonomy:
Fabaceae is a family of legumes that includes the scientifically named Clitoria ternatea.
Tropical Asia, namely the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, is its native habitat.
The plant resembles a vine and has show-stopping, deeply blue blossoms with a white or yellow throat. The flower gets its popular name from the fact that its form is similar to a butterfly's, the flower gets its popular name.
2. In the Kitchen:
Blue tea, made from steeped flowers, is a popular beverage in many regions of Southeast Asia. The pH of the tea determines its hue; for example, the citric acid in lemon juice may transform blue tea into purple.
The flower is used as a natural food dye, giving rice meals, desserts, and beverages a striking blue color.
Cocktails: Butterfly pea flower tea is a popular addition to cocktails because of its color-changing capabilities. The tea's hue changes depending on the other ingredients used.
3. traditional Southeast Asian and Ayurvedic medicine has long utilized the medicinal and health benefits of the butterfly pea flower. According to recent research, the butterfly pea flower may offer some potential health advantages.
The anthocyanins it contains have strong antioxidant effects, which contribute to its antioxidant properties. If this happens, the body may be better protected against free radicals and oxidative stress.
Traditional usage of this cognitive enhancer has led researchers to believe that it may raise levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a key role in learning and memory.
The plant's anti-inflammatory characteristics may alleviate aches and swelling in certain people.
As a sedative, it has the potential to alleviate nervous tension and help people unwind after a long day.
Research suggests that the butterfly pea's floral extract may aid in blood sugar regulation, making it an anti-diabetic.
4. it has cosmetic applications: skincare products often include extract from butterfly pea flowers because of the antioxidants it contains. Its anti-aging properties help to prevent skin damage, promote healthy hair development, and reduce visible signs of aging.
5. Clitoria ternatea, a legume, improves soil fertility via nitrogen fixation, which has environmental and agricultural applications.
Brilliant blue blossoms, an ornamental plant and a natural pollinator magnet, are a common sight in many garden settings.
6. The cultural significance of butterfly pea blossoms stems from their historical use in Thailand and Myanmar to color rice and desserts. Some regions of India use the plant in religious ceremonies and associate it with the goddess Aparajita.
7. How to Prepare and Consume It
We steep the dried blossoms of the butterfly pea plant in boiling water for around five minutes to prepare the tea. The color and taste will get stronger as the steeping time increases. It tastes great hot and cold.
You may add honey for sweetness or mix it with other herbs like mint or lemongrass to create a variety of flavors. By adding acidic ingredients like lemon juice, you can change the hue and give it a zesty edge.
8. Side Effects and Safety: While most people shouldn't have any problems digesting modest quantities of butterfly pea flower, some people may have gastrointestinal distress from eating too much of it.
While it does not seem to have any major medication interactions, anybody with preexisting health concerns should talk to their doctor before using this supplement.