Ever wondered where the natural blue colouring of delicious nyonya kueh, such as the Pulut Tai Tai and Kueh Salat, come from?
The edible blue dye is extracted from the flowers of the Butterfly Pea (
Clitoria ternatea)! Its funnel-shaped flowers come in colours ranging from white, pink, light blue or dark blue.
Its flowers are not the only parts that are useful! Traditionally, juice from the roots is mixed with cold milk as a remedy to remove phlegm and chronic bronchitis. Its seeds can also be mashed with honey to relieve tonsillitis.
Indeed a versatile and handy plant!
: Raem Tan
