Butterfly Pea Flowers Whole

Name: Butterfly Pea Flowers Whole
SKU: HTBFPK1
Price: 44.2 AUD
Availability: InStock

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SKU: HTBFPK1

Botanical: Clitoria ternatea

Origin: China/Vietnam

$44.20 - $515.77

Clitoria ternatea

pH-Reactive Natural Blue Colour

Heat-Stable Naturally

Naturally Caffeine Free

HTBFPK1: *

500g 1kg 250g 5kg Bulk Packs - Not individual units

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Product Details

About

Our Conventional Butterfly Pea Flowers (*Clitoria ternatea*) are the secret behind the world's most vibrant natural blue foods and drinks. Native to Southeast Asia, these dried flowers yield an intense, deep sapphire-blue extraction when steeped in water. But the real magic happens with chemistry: add a squeeze of lemon or lime, and the liquid instantly transforms into a brilliant violet-purple. While they look exotic, they have a very mild, earthy taste similar to unsweetened green tea or spinach, making them the perfect natural food dye for cocktails, lattes, rice, and baking without altering the flavour profile of your dish.

As always, it's advisable to consult with healthcare professionals for personalised guidance on health concerns.

Directions of Use

The flowers are heat-stable and release their colour quickly in hot water.

1. Magic Tea: Steep 5-10 dried flowers in a cup of hot water for 3-5 minutes. Watch the water turn blue. Add honey to sweeten, then squeeze in a wedge of lemon to watch it turn purple before your eyes.

2. Natural Food Dye: Brew a concentrated "ink" by simmering 1/2 cup of flowers in 1 cup of water. Use this liquid to colour rice (Nasi Kerabu), icing, custards, or cocktails.

3. Blue Latte: Steep strong blue tea, strain, and whisk in steamed almond or coconut milk and a dash of vanilla for a calming, caffeine-free "Blue Moon Milk."

4. Cocktails/Mocktails: Infuse the flowers directly into gin or vodka for a spirit that changes colour when tonic (acidic) is added.

Specifications

Ingredient Declaration:	100% Dried Butterfly Pea Flowers (Clitoria ternatea)
Form:	Whole Dried Flowers
Grade:	Conventional (Non-Organic)
Flavour Profile:	Mild, earthy, woody, slightly vegetal (like green tea)
Shelf Life:	Up to 24 months if stored properly
Packaging:	Packaged in food-safe, recyclable or biodegradable materials
Processing:	Harvested, sun-dried, and packed. This product has undergone freeze treatment to reduce the risk of insect contamination.
Allergen Summary Statement:	No known allergens. Trace elements may be present - check with HC for more details if required.
	The Herbal Connection makes no Allergen Free claims.

Store below 23 °C in a sealed, dry container away from direct sunlight (sunlight will fade the blue pigment).

The Herbal Connection is a family-run Australian business committed to premium ingredients for wholesale and retail customers.

Disclaimer: This product is sold as a food only.

Additional Information

Butterfly Pea Flowers Whole

$44.20 - $515.77

Choose Options

Butterfly Pea Flowers Whole

$44.20 - $515.77

HTBFPK1 * 500g 1kg 250g 5kg Bulk Packs - Not individual units

Butterfly Pea Flowers Whole — Clitoria ternatea

Butterfly Pea Flowers (Clitoria ternatea) — whole dried flowers of the butterfly pea vine, native to South and South-East Asia and now one of the most commercially significant natural blue colourant botanical ingredients in the global food and beverage industry. The dried flowers yield an intense, deep sapphire-blue colour when steeped in water — and the truly remarkable property that has driven their commercial rise is their pH-sensitivity: add acid (lemon juice, lime juice, citric acid) and the colour instantly transforms from blue to brilliant violet and then to pink-purple as the pH drops. This colour shift is caused by the anthocyanin pigments in the flower reacting to the change in acidity — a natural chemical property that creates dramatic visual effects in cocktails, teas, and culinary applications with no artificial additives of any kind.

The flavour is very mild — earthy, slightly woody, and gently vegetal, similar to a weak unsweetened green tea — making butterfly pea an essentially flavour-neutral natural colourant that can be used freely without significantly altering the taste of the final product. The blue colour is also heat-stable, which makes it suitable for hot applications including baking and cooking. Naturally caffeine-free. No known allergens. Available in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 5kg bulk. This product is sold as a food only.

Product Specifications

Botanical Clitoria ternatea

Common Names Butterfly Pea Flower; Blue Pea; Asian Pigeon Wings; Aparajita (Indian)

Origin China / Vietnam

Grade Conventional (non-organic)

Ingredient 100% Whole Dried Butterfly Pea Flowers

Colour Property Vivid sapphire-blue in neutral/water — turns violet-purple-pink when acid is added (pH-reactive)

Heat Stability Heat-stable — suitable for hot applications including baking and cooking

Flavour Profile Mild, earthy, woody, slightly vegetal — effectively flavour-neutral as a colourant

Caffeine None — naturally caffeine-free

Allergens No known allergens. Trace elements may be present due to farming practices.

Processing Sun-dried; freeze-treated to reduce the risk of insect contamination

Sizes Available 250g, 500g, 1kg, 5kg bulk (not individual units)

Shelf Life Up to 24 months when stored correctly

Storage Below 23°C in a sealed, dry container — away from direct sunlight (UV fades the blue pigment)

Butterfly Pea Flowers — FAQs

Everything you need to know before you order.

Why does butterfly pea tea change colour?

The colour change is a natural chemical reaction — no additives or trickery involved. The blue colour is produced by anthocyanin pigments in the flower (specifically ternatins, a class of polyacylated anthocyanins unique to Clitoria ternatea). Anthocyanins act as natural pH indicators — their molecular structure changes in response to acidity, which alters how they absorb and reflect light. In neutral or alkaline conditions (plain water, pH 7+), the pigment produces blue. As you add acid — a squeeze of lemon or lime, citric acid, hibiscus tea, or any acidic ingredient — the pH drops and the pigment shifts colour: first to blue-purple (pH ~5–6), then to violet-purple (pH ~4), then toward pink-red (pH ~3). Adding alkaline ingredients such as baking soda shifts it the other direction, toward green and eventually yellow-green. The transformation happens instantly and dramatically — it is one of the most visually striking natural food phenomena possible.

How do I use butterfly pea flowers in tea and cocktails?

Magic tea: steep 5–10 dried flowers in a cup of hot water for 3–5 minutes — the water turns a vivid sapphire blue. Sweeten with honey if desired, then squeeze in a wedge of lemon or lime to watch it transform to violet-purple instantly. Serve in a clear glass for maximum visual impact. Natural food dye ink: simmer ½ cup of flowers in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes to produce a highly concentrated blue liquid. Use to colour rice (traditional Nasi Kerabu), icing, custards, pasta dough, or bread. Blue latte: steep a strong blue tea, strain, and whisk in steamed coconut or almond milk and a dash of vanilla for a naturally blue caffeine-free latte. Cocktails and mocktails: infuse flowers directly into gin or vodka for a colour-shifting spirit — add acidic tonic water or citrus and watch the blue transform to purple in the glass. Pour slowly over ice from a height to create a gradient layering effect in layered drinks.

Can I use butterfly pea as a heat-stable natural food dye in baking?

Yes — unlike many natural pigments that degrade significantly with heat, butterfly pea anthocyanins are relatively heat-stable and retain their blue colour through cooking and baking at normal temperatures. This makes butterfly pea one of the only naturally derived blue food colourants that is practical for hot applications. In baking: brew a concentrated blue liquid (simmer flowers in water, strain) and use as the liquid component in white cake batter, icing, shortbread dough, pasta dough, or bread dough to produce blue-coloured baked goods. Note that the blue may shift toward purple or green in alkaline baking environments (dough containing baking soda), so test your specific formulation first. In icing: the concentrated liquid mixes well into royal icing, buttercream, and fondant. In rice: cook rice in the blue liquid instead of plain water for a vivid blue rice dish.

How does butterfly pea flower compare to cornflower as a natural blue?

Both are naturally blue botanical ingredients but with very different properties and applications. Butterfly pea flower is used primarily as a natural blue liquid colourant — steep in water to extract the vivid blue pigment for use in beverages, food, and baking. It produces an intense, concentrated blue colour that is pH-reactive and heat-stable, making it a functional food dye ingredient. Cornflower petals (Centaurea cyanus) are used as a dry visual ingredient — their blue petals are included in tea blends, sprinkled on food, and used as a visible decorative element; they do not extract a practical concentration of blue colourant into liquid. Butterfly pea is the choice when you need a blue-coloured liquid or base; cornflower is the choice when you need a visible blue flower piece in a dry blend or garnish. Both are available in the HC range.

Is butterfly pea flower suitable for use during pregnancy?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a qualified healthcare professional before consuming butterfly pea flower products. As with all herbal botanical products, this product is not intended to be used for therapeutic purposes and professional guidance should be sought for any health-related questions during pregnancy. This product is sold as a food only.

What wholesale and bulk options are available?

The standard sizes listed — 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 5kg — are our regular stocked wholesale pack sizes, but The Herbal Connection is a wholesale supplier and can accommodate bulk orders well beyond these standard sizes. Whether you are a beverage manufacturer, cocktail bar supplier, tea blender, food producer, bakery, or large-scale buyer with ongoing volume requirements, we can discuss pricing and supply arrangements to suit your needs. A Butterfly Pea Flower Powder is also available separately for applications requiring a fine, dispersible powder format. Contact our wholesale team at sales@herbalconnection.com.au or call (07) 5451 8780 to discuss your specific volume requirements and receive a tailored quote.