Clean Label: The Push for Transparency and Real Food in the Industry
As more consumers are becoming aware of the importance of food and nutrition, we see a resurgence of natural or clean label products. Additionally, the US announces the phase out of synthetic food colorings by 2026 in an effort to reduce potential health risks. With it, industry players are now shifting back to natural resources. One particular game changer is the Butterfly Pea Flower. Being 100% natural and heat stable, this plant shows promise as a clean label ingredient.
Known for its property as a versatile natural colorant and traditional uses, there’s much to be anticipated from this plant-based ingredient. With recent approval from governing bodies, it’s only a matter of time before Butterfly Pea is gaining traction. Read on to find out how it fares with Spiruline - another popular blue natural colorant, its health benefits and versatile uses in modern food manufacturing processes.
Butterfly Pea: An Adaptable Plant with Versatile Applications
Butterfly Pea or Clitoria ternatea, is a plant that’s ubiquitous throughout areas of tropical Asian countries, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Madagascar. Butterfly Pea is widely cultivated for its ornamental value as well as a cover crop and green manure, thanks to its ability to suppress weeds and enrich soil.
Additionally, the plant is utilized in traditional medicine. For example, its roots were used for inflammatory diseases such as sore throat and skin diseases, seeds and leaves were used as brain tonic, and juice and flowers were used in swollen joints. One of its most well-known uses is as a nighttime tea to relax and induce a deeper sleep.
Lastly, Butterfly Pea’s blue pigment is used as a natural food colorant throughout Southeast Asia. The plant has several variations of colors depending on pH, creating a spectrum of pink, red, purple, blue, green, and yellow - extending its versatility as a natural colorant.
Butterfly Pea: A Natural Colorant in the Modern Food Industry
The increasing consumer demand for natural ingredients is driving a significant shift away from synthetic colorants. In a landmark move, the US has announced plans to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the food supply by 2028, citing the need to decrease rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, and ADHD. Similarly, in the EU, synthetic dyes are subject to mandatory statements such as “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children,” which has prompted many manufacturers to seek alternatives.
Butterfly Pea Flower is a natural colorant that is rapidly gaining popularity as a replacement. Its versatility and health benefits have further cemented its acceptance, especially with the FDA's approval of Butterfly Pea as a natural dye for food and beverages in May 2025. In the European Union, Butterfly Pea is considered a novel food, often used as a nutraceutical ingredient.
While Spirulina is currently the major player for blue natural colorants, Butterfly Pea presents a compelling alternative. Here is how it compares to Spirulina:
As can be seen from the table above, both are naturally derived and have beneficial health effects. However, Butterfly Pea has advantages over Spirulina in terms of its flavor, heat sensitivity, pigment variety, and applications.
The flavor or Spirulina can be overpowering, with some reporting it to be strong, earthy, and sea-like. Manufacturers may find this unacceptable, as it could alter the taste of their finished products. Butterfly Pea on the other hand has virtually no flavor, which could be matched with numerous applications without disrupting products’ sensory properties.
Butterfly Pea is also more favorable in terms of pigment variety. The anthocyanin in Butterfly Pea can change according to pH. It adopts red or purple colors in acidic conditions, blue at neutral pH, then eventually green and yellow at basic solutions.
Lastly, it’s more stable and less sensitive to heat and light. All these aspects make Butterfly Pea Flower more versatile when it comes to applications, especially in products that require heat processing such as the bakery industry.
Butterfly Pea’s Surprising Health Benefits
Aside from its stability and versatility as a natural colorant, Butterfly Pea also has health benefits thanks to its antioxidants:
- Supporting skin and hair health when used in topical products such as skin care serums, hair mists, or shampoos
- May promote weight loss when the petals are steeped and consumed. Research is still in the preliminary stage, but results show promise.
- May stabilize blood sugar levels when its flower extract is used in beverages.
- It may also have a relaxing effect and help reduce anxiety or stress , thanks to its alkaloids. Which is why it’s perfect as a nighttime drink.
Tripper’s Butterfly Pea Product Line: Single Origin and 100% Natural
Tripper has established a competitive edge in the market with our 100% single-origin, high-quality butterfly pea products. We oversee the entire process from start to finish, from cultivation to processing, ensuring traceability and the highest standards of quality and purity.
- Dried Butterfly Pea Flower: Our dried butterfly pea flowers offer a vibrant and all-natural blue pigment. Perfect for infusing teas, cocktails, and other beverages, they can also be ground into a powder for use in baked goods and desserts. The flowers retain the plant's natural antioxidant benefits and are ideal for creating visually stunning, health-conscious products.
- Butterfly Pea Extract Powder: This highly concentrated powder provides the same brilliant hue in a convenient, versatile form. It’s perfect for applications like confectionery, bakery items, and even as a supplement ingredient. The powder is rich in antioxidants and can be easily incorporated into a wide range of clean-label products to provide both a vivid color and wellness benefits.
Make the Shift to Clean Label and Take Full Advantage of Butterfly Pea’s Versatility
Butterfly Pea is a versatile, multi-purpose ingredient with significant market potential. Its vibrant colors, stable pigment, subtle flavor, and promising health benefits make it a powerful asset for product developers. Capitalize on the growing consumer demand for natural and transparent ingredients. The key is to utilize Butterfly Pea in all its possible forms: from a beautiful colorant to a beneficial health supplement. Start your product development today and contact Tripper’s team to find out your options!
FAQs
What is a butterfly pea?
A natural ingredient, known as Clitoria ternatea, traditionally known for its vibrant blue hue, relaxing properties, and health benefits. The plant-based ingredient is becoming more popular in modern food applications.
What does butterfly pea do to your body?
Butterfly Pea has several beneficial properties, such as anti-glycation and antioxidants. It’s thought to encourage a healthy digestive system, support skin and hair health, promote weight loss, and stabilize blood sugar levels. It can also be used as a natural relaxant, which is why Butterfly Pea is traditionally consumed at night.
What does butterfly pea taste like?
Butterfly pea doesn’t have much taste and has a subtle hint of earthy tone. This makes it a perfect addition to your products as colorants without altering the sensory properties. If you’re consuming it on its own, we recommend adding honey, lemon, or ginger to add sweetness and flavor.
What are the three naturally sourced food colorings approved by the FDA?
The three naturally sourced food colorings recently approved by the FDA are Galdireia extract blue, Butterfly Pea extract, and Calcium phosphate.
Is it better to drink butterfly pea tea at night or morning?
Butterfly Pea is traditionally consumed at night, as it has natural calming properties that may improve sleep and induce relaxation.