Using the Blue Butterfly Pea Flower

The blue pea flower is a fantastic natural food colour and one that’s gaining traction in Australia. The flower comes from a crawling vine native to Southeast Asia and has been used in Asia in medicine and in food for centuries.

If you frequent trendy cafes or healthy eating eateries, you may have seen some brilliant blue lattes and breakfast bowls getting around. That’s because this brilliant little flower is finding its way onto menus all across Australia.

There’s a variety of different uses for the delicious – and healthy – little flower, and we’ve selected some of our favourites for you to try out at home.

Tea

The blue pea flower has been brewed in tea around Asia for centuries. Blue tea is used as a welcome drink in Thailand, while Chinese medicine prescribes blue tea as a cure-all and a digestive helper. When steeped in water, the flowers start to leech their beautiful blue into the brew, turning the tea delightful soft blue. It’s common practice to add lime or lemon to the tea, which not only enhances the flavour but changes the colour to a pink or purple! Try it out it’s pretty fantastic.

Blue dumplings

This requires you to make the dumpling dough at home yourself, but it’s definitely worth the effort! The dumplings go a wonderfully deep blue and look sensational on the plate. Garnish with some of the dried flowers or chop them finely and add them to the dumpling filling!

Purple Lemonade

I’ve chosen lemonade here (because it’s delicious!) but you can really add it to any of your favourite drinks. Add it to your homemade lemonade mixture and watch it go a beautiful purple. It’s also brilliant in colouring cocktails and even a classic gin and tonic.

Rice

Add the flowers to rice while cooking and watch it turn pale blue! It gives a fantastic fresh look to sushi rolls, Buddha bowls and glutinous rice desserts.

Sago

Delicious blue pearls for your next bubble tea! Or serve it in a bowl for a delightful blue treat

Congee

Turn this Asian staple blue but adding blue pea flowers to the porridge while cooking.

Did we miss some of your favourite uses for blue pea? Let us know!