Clitoria ternatea

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Clitoria ternatea, known as butterfly pea, is a vine native to tropical Asia. Its vivid blue flowers are used in cooking, color extracts, traditional Ayurveda (as Shankhpushpi in some traditions), and modern supplements marketed for cognition and mood.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Postprandial glucose

Mixed Evidence

Small human studies suggest blunted postprandial glucose with butterfly pea tea; evidence is preliminary.

Cognitive support

Mixed Evidence

Animal studies are encouraging; very limited human evidence exists.

How it works

The flowers and roots contain anthocyanins (ternatins), flavonoids, and saponins. Preclinical studies suggest cognitive-enhancing, anxiolytic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, with some evidence for acetylcholinesterase inhibition in animal models. Human trial data are limited but include small studies on cognition, postprandial blood sugar, and inflammation markers, with mostly modest positive results.

Dosage

DSLD does not list a single standardized dose. Most supplements supply 200-500 mg of flower extract per day. Culinary use (as butterfly pea tea) varies.

When and how to take it

Often taken with meals once or twice daily.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Flower extract or dried flower tea

Used in tea and culinary color applications.

Anthocyanin content varies

Standardized capsule extract

Used in modern cognitive supplements.

Standardized to ternatin or anthocyanin content

Safety

Generally well tolerated in food and supplement amounts. Mild GI upset occasionally reported. Long-term high-dose safety has not been thoroughly studied.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to limited data. Use cautiously with diabetes medications and anticoagulants.

Interactions

Theoretical effects on glucose may interact with diabetes medications. No major drug interactions have been documented.

Food sources

Butterfly pea tea

Amount
Used as a beverage
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Why does the tea change color?⌄

Anthocyanins are pH-sensitive. Adding lemon turns the blue tea purple or pink, which is a useful chemistry demonstration.

Does it really improve focus?⌄

Animal evidence is supportive, but human data are limited and effects are modest at best.

References

Clitoria ternatea on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Clitoria ternatea (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.