Australian Butterfly Pea Flower Tea | Clitoria ternatea

Although Clitoria ternatea is native to parts of tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, it has become deeply embedded in the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia.

In Malaysia it is known as bunga telang, where the flowers are traditionally steeped to produce the natural blue colouring used in nasi kerabu, a rice dish strongly associated with Kelantan and the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The connection is so established that the flower is also known locally as bunga nasi kerabu.

It occupies an unusual intersection between botany, traditional food culture and visible plant chemistry.

01 | PREPARE — Place approximately 4 to 5 whole dried flowers into a glass or ceramic steeping vessel.

02 | EXTRACT — Pour 250 mL of freshly boiled water over the flowers and steep for approximately 3 to 5 minutes as the ternatin pigments gradually move into the water.

03 | OBSERVE — Watch the infusion develop from pale blue into a vivid sapphire tone. Strain once the desired colour intensity has been reached.

04 | SERVE — Enjoy hot or chilled. The flavour is naturally mild and delicate, allowing the extraordinary visual character of the botanical to remain at the centre of the experience.

05 | TRANSFORM — Add fresh lemon or lime to the finished infusion. As the pH falls, the sapphire blue shifts through violet and, with greater acidity, towards magenta.

Store tightly sealed in a cool, dark and dry place, protected from direct sunlight, heat and moisture.

Reseal promptly after opening and always handle with dry utensils.

Australian Orders

✅ Australian Capital Territory

✅ New South Wales

✅ Northern Territory

✅ Queensland

✅ South Australia

✅ Tasmania

✅ Victoria

✅ Western Australia

Available for postage to all Australian states and territories.

International Orders

✅ Available where permitted

International postage is available where permitted. Customers are responsible for checking applicable import requirements for their destination before ordering.

Sacred Plants Australia does not provide phytosanitary certificates, import permits or destination-specific regulatory documentation.

Last reviewed: 7 October 2026