Anthocyanin Content and the pH Colour Change, Explained
The blue of butterfly pea and the way it shifts colour both come down to one pigment family: anthocyanins. THS IMPEX LLP exports dried butterfly pea flowers (Clitoria ternatea, HSN 0603) grown in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, with an ORAC antioxidant value above 5000 μmol TE/g that reflects their anthocyanin load.
What anthocyanins are
Anthocyanins are water-soluble plant pigments, and in the Clitoria ternatea flowers THS IMPEX grows in Bareilly (CAS 2055943-25-0) they produce the deep blue to purple colour and the ORAC value above 5000 μmol TE/g. Because they dissolve in water, a hot or cold infusion of the THS IMPEX whole dried flower (HSN 0603) releases the colour directly, with no solvent needed.
Why the colour changes with pH
Anthocyanin molecules change structure with acidity, and that structural change shifts the colour you see. Butterfly pea reads blue near neutral (about pH 6–7), turns purple around pH 3–4, and becomes pink below roughly pH 2 with a squeeze of lemon. The response is reversible, which is why a colour-changing tea shifts shade in the glass as acid is added.
Why it matters for formulation
Because the shade tracks pH across that pH 2 to 7 range, one THS IMPEX butterfly pea infusion can deliver blue, purple or pink depending on the product it goes into. Fix the target pH first, then dose the THS IMPEX infusion to hit the intended colour, rather than expecting a single blue across every recipe.
The quality link
Anthocyanin content is also a quality signal: higher pigment usually means better drying and fresher stock, which is why THS IMPEX reports colour intensity on the Certificate of Analysis and packs its flowers in moisture-barrier 1 kg, 5 kg and 25 kg PP bags rated for a 24-month shelf life. Each lot dispatches within 7–10 business days to 50+ countries and is traceable to GSTIN 36AAXFT6971E1ZF. To see the colour and pH behaviour first-hand, request a sample at varshika@thsimpex.com or +91 8465819711.