CUP CHARACTERISTICS: A reasonably smooth lightly vegetative cup. Rare herbal tea consumed for 'health' at Thai herbal spas.
INGREDIENTS: Butterfly Blue Pea Flowers
Introducing a flower guaranteed to give you the blues. (Thankfully, it's not the blues normally associated with dingy bars and failed relationships.) Rather, it's quite the opposite. The petals of the Blue Pea Flower, (Latin: Clitoria ternatea), have been used since time immemorial to add colour to celebratory drinks in various locales around the world. Exhibit 1: Thailand, the country where we've sourced this luxury grade dried Blue Pea Flower. For centuries, the Thai people have had a love affair with a syrupy beverage known as nam dok anchan. This fabulous beverage made with dried flowers, lime juice and sugar is as delicious as it is easy to prepare.
Here's how you make it. You'll need: 12 dried flowers, Lime juice, Sugar. Start by soaking the flowers in 1 cup of freshly boiled water per serving. Let them steep for 15 minutes, then strain. Notice the deep blue hue of the water. Next, add a few drops of lime juice for sweetness and watch your glass turn purple. Pour over ice, serve with a slice of lime and get ready to say "mmm".
If you don't have the time to make your own nam dok anchan, these also petals make a fabulous ingredient to your own custom tea and herbal blends. Experiment, and get the blues today!
What does Ayurveda say about the Blue Pea Flower? According to India's traditional medicine, Blue Pea Flower has been in use for centuries as an antidepressant, anticonvulsant, sedative and memory enhancer. Amazing!
