Butterfly Pea as a Natural Blue Food Colourant in Beverages
Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea, CAS 2055943-25-0) is the only commercially scalable source of a natural blue colour in beverages, and THS IMPEX LLP exports it as whole dried flowers grown in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India under HSN 0603. This article covers what a formulator needs to know before specifying bulk butterfly pea flowers in a beverage application.
Why butterfly pea is the clean-label blue
Most natural pigments run red, orange or yellow. Butterfly pea anthocyanins (primarily ternatins) produce a genuine blue at neutral pH, which is why the flower has become the go-to source for natural blue in still water, sparkling water, lemonade, gin and cocktail mixers. The FDA lists butterfly pea flower extract under 21 CFR 73.69 as a colour additive exempt from certification, giving it a regulatory advantage over synthetic dyes that require batch certification.
The pH colour shift: blue to purple to pink
Butterfly pea anthocyanins are pH-sensitive: the infusion reads deep blue near neutral (pH 6–7), shifts to purple around pH 3–4, and turns pink below roughly pH 2. This means the final colour in a beverage depends on the formulation's acidity. THS IMPEX reports colour intensity on the Certificate of Analysis so a formulator can calibrate dose to target shade before finalising a recipe with the THS IMPEX whole dried flower (HSN 0603).
The regulatory position
In the United States, the FDA lists butterfly pea flower extract under 21 CFR 73.69 as a colour additive exempt from certification, which is a genuine advantage over synthetic dyes that require batch certification. Note the listing covers the aqueous extract specifically; whole dried flower is sold as a food ingredient separate from that listing, so match the form to your regulatory pathway.
Sourcing it for production
THS IMPEX packs butterfly pea flowers in 1 kg, 5 kg and 25 kg PP bags with a 24-month shelf life and dispatches within 7–10 business days, each lot traceable to Bareilly and GSTIN 36AAXFT6971E1ZF. For a colour-grade sample or bulk quote, contact varshika@thsimpex.com or +91 8465819711.