WINGS OF DESIRE

VARIOUSLY CALLED PIGEONWINGS, BUTTERFLY PEA AND DARWIN PEA, THIS PRETTY FLOWER TURNS HEADS WITH ITS SCIENTIFIC NAME, CLITORIA

Words Chloe Thomson

My introduction to the bewitching properties of the blue butterfly pea flower came when I was offered a bright-blue tea in Thailand. As soon as I added some lime juice it changed colour to bright magenta. What’s the magic behind this colour-change phenomenon? Tea made from butterfly pea flowers, fresh or dried, is pH reactive: the addition of lime juice (or a similar acid, including tonic water) will cause the reaction. Originally from the Indonesian island of Ternate — hence its scientific name ternatea — the blue butterfly pea is also commonly known as Asian pigeonwings or Darwin pea. However, its generic name Clitoria has long raised eyebrows and does indeed come from the flower’s resemblance to the female anatomy. On discovering what this fabulous plant was called, I instantly set about researching to…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #14.3

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