Organic Butterfly Pea Lemongrass
Native to Southeast Asia, butterfly pea flower is a vision of blue both inside and outside the cup! The blue flower produces a dazzling lapis lazuli liquor that always proves a conversation starter. While striking in its appearance, butterfly pea flower is subtle in flavor. As a result, we’ve blended it with organic Thai lemongrass to create a delightful, light-bodied loose leaf organic herbal tea. The delicate herbaceous notes of the butterfly pea flower complement the soft, lemon rind flavor of the Thai lemongrass. Naturally caffeine free, both herbs are grown on the Sanmahaphon Community Farm, an organic collective farm in the Chiang Mai province of Northern Thailand.
Butterfly pea flower is also known for its color-changing properties. By altering its pH the liquor will turn from blue to vibrant purple. Simply add a squeeze of lemon or lime! This blue and purple tea is perfectly suited for unique cocktail creations. In Southeast Asia it is traditionally used in cooking as a natural dye in rice dishes, such as kuih ketan and nasi kerabu.
Ingredients: organic lemongrass and organic butterfly pea flower
Origin: Sanmahaphon Community Farm, Maetang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sanmahaphon Organic and Herbal Products Community Enterprise Farm is a farming collective that spans over 86 acres of organic land amid the lush jungles of the Chiang Mai province in Northern Thailand. Established in 1994, Sanmahaphon Community Farm was founded by a group of Thai neighbors in Maetang who wanted to grow healthy, nourishing crops without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. The farm began selling products nationally and internationally in 2009, and as their organic collective grew, it created local jobs which helped to raise the standard of living for the workers and their families in the surrounding area
In 2014, Sanmahaphon expanded its impact in the nearby communities and in Thailand as a whole by forming a partnership with Chiang Mai University. This collaboration provides additional recognition and support for the collective as a teaching farm that freely provides guidance in sustainable and regenerative farming practices, as well as organic certification education for students and other Thai farmers.
The organic butterfly pea flowers and organic lemongrass in this blend are skillfully hand-tended (planted, watered, and weeded) and carefully hand-harvested to protect the delicate blooms and slender stalks. After harvesting, the botanicals are sun dried naturally in a solar house and finished in a hot-air oven as the weather dictates.
Steeping Instructions
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend herbal and rooibos teas to be steeped for 5 to 7 minutes in water heated to a full rolling boil. For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible, and avoid overboiling. If you want a stronger brew, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!
Staff Perspectives
Lea
"The deep indigo color of the liquor is amazing! It reminds me of my mom’s batik dyes when I was a child."
Chelsea
"The taste is bright and lemony, and it looks gorgeous in mixed drinks!"
Health Benefits
Butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, most commonly as a memory enhancer, nootropic, antistress, and antidepressant. Organic compounds such as flavonol glycosides and anthocyanins are also present in the flower. When used as an extract, it has the potential to be an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, and diuretic.
Lemongrass is widely used throughout Southeastern Asia and Africa in traditional and alternative medicine. It is also popular in the practice of aromatherapy. Recent scientific studies have provided evidence supporting its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties in several disease models. One study suggests that lemongrass is a potentially valuable antifungal and anti-inflammatory agent for the prevention and treatment of acute inflammatory skin conditions. The same study also suggests that it could potentially be used as an air decontaminant in hospitals.
For more information about the health benefits of Lemongrass, Butterfly Pea Flower and other types of herbs, and for direct sources of the above information, check out our Health Benefits of Herbal Tea page!
Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
