1 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savor Protection of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: I'm Annie Reese and I'm Lauren vog Obam and today 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:18,240 Speaker 1: we have an episode for you about butterfly pea flower. Yes, 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: And while you might be confused at this moment, this 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: is an honor of Star Wars Day because as this 6 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: comes out, it is May the fourth, So may the 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: fourth be with you? Have I have so many celebrations planned. 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I'm already like started and I'm just going. 9 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: But I have a lot of stuff ready to go, 10 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: so excited. Does that include your your drink? Which is 11 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: the reason that we chose this episode topic? It does? 12 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: It does? So, Lauren, Lauren and I I think it's 13 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: pretty obvious are fans of Star Wars. Um, and we're 14 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: talking about what we could have as a topic for 15 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: this very important day because we've already done like the 16 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: food of Star Wars in a previous fictional foods episode. Um, 17 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: and you know, uh don't have a whole lot to 18 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: add to that as of now. So I was like, right, right, 19 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: I still haven't even been to the theme park. So 20 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: but yeah, So I was like, Annie, you know what 21 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: does what are some earthly foods or drinks or related 22 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 1: items that remind you of Star Wars, and she sent 23 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: me this gloriously variable list. There was a lot of 24 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: different things. It was like dry ice and sugar cookies 25 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: and like, oh my goodness. I mean honestly, like I 26 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: could find Star Wars in anything, but this is It's 27 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: like the forest. It's everywhere, shure exactly, it flows through us. 28 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: So this the butterfly pea flower. The reason I kind 29 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: of associated with Star Wars is because I have in 30 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: my mind a very famous among my friend group drink 31 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: that's kind of galaxy gin drink that is blue. It 32 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: sparkles and changes color when you add lemon to it, 33 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: and so basically what it is. It's very simple. But 34 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: and I made after we did this research. I have 35 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: to admit, I went into my cupboard, which is an 36 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: absolute nightmare, and fished out my butterfly pea flowers and 37 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: I have got the ingredients ready to make this drink. 38 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: But essentially you put um a couple like six or 39 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: seven butterfly pea flowers in a bottle of gin with 40 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: some edible glitter, let it sit and then you can 41 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: make really anything from that. But I normally make like 42 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: a either a gin and tonic or maybe like gin 43 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: elder flower liqueur and tonic. And then you add the lemon, 44 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: and the lemon changes colors because it goes from like 45 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: a really bright, vivid blue and then when you add 46 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: the lemon, it becomes a very soft purple. Yeah, I've 47 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: made it for D and D. I have like a 48 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: video of me making it on Instagram. It's a very 49 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: old post, but it's on there. Um. But anyway, it 50 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: feels very kind of galactic or out of this world galaxy, 51 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: especially if you're not familiar with it. And I did 52 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: read a lot of articles for this about how that 53 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: color is pretty rare in nature, that especially that like 54 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: bright blue. Yeah, yeah, absolutely color and it does fairly 55 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: often pop up as an ingredient in Star Wars recipes 56 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: because that color is so arresting, uh and unique. I 57 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: put it in quotes, it is, it is pretty rare 58 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: in nature, but it does, uh like in in certain 59 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: places it's pretty common. But yeah, experience it's it's new. Yeah. 60 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: And and you know, usually, or I guess traditionally, in 61 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: American cuisine, if anything was that color blue, it was 62 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: because of artificial food dies exactly. So yes, but it is. 63 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: I checked on it before we came in here, and 64 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 1: it's already I just put the flowers in this morning, 65 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: and it's already a beautiful blue squirreling with the edible glitter. 66 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: I accidentally made the mistake of not putting edible in 67 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: from the glitter part. Earlier today, someone was like, wait, 68 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: so you're having your friends drink glitter like It's like, no, no, no, 69 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: it's edible glitter. Yes, it's very pretty. It's very it 70 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: is it is. I can attest to this. I think 71 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: you brought it to D and D one time. Yeah, 72 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: I did. Yeah, it's pretty, it's pretty, it's lovely. Yeah. 73 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: M hmmm. Well, I guess this brings us to our question. 74 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: Let's say it does. Yes, butterfly pea flower, what is it? Well? Uh, 75 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: the butterfly pea is a plant that blooms with these 76 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: just gorgeous, like bright royal blue flowers that are edible 77 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: and can be used to create a crystal blue tea 78 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 1: type infusion um like a like a painting of the 79 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: sea and a glass um that that will write turn 80 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: like bright purple to magenta pink when you start adding 81 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: something acidic like lemon juice um alone. The flowers and 82 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: infusions there of taste floral uh and and like a 83 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: little earthy and woody in this really delicate way. It's 84 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: just really nice and light. Um Uh. It's like a 85 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: like like a really um uh delicate white tea, like 86 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: went to special effects school or like or like gott 87 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: into the manic panic. Oh. I love that. I just 88 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: kind of thinking it's sort of like the I don't know, 89 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: Emo the family or something. Yeah. Um. Botanical name Victoria 90 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: turnip tia. The butterfly pea is a member of the 91 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: Fassier family or the lagoon family. It's a climbing vine 92 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: that can be kept as a perennial in tropical climates 93 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: or grown from seed. Every year um it produces these 94 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: soft green leaves and a seasonal bloom of Yes, these 95 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: lovely deep blue flowers, usually with a little white center, 96 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 1: and they look like a volva. That's what they look like. 97 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: The hence the gene name um. If you let them 98 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: pollinate and fruit, they will produce an edible peapod um 99 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: or it's edible when it's a young and tender. But 100 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: I haven't read much about eating them. I think it's 101 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: mostly about those flowers. Um, And they get that color 102 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: from a pigment molecule that humans first learned about from 103 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: studying this plant. Um. Okay, So, anthes cyanins are pigments 104 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: that give lots of red or blue or purple fruits 105 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,119 Speaker 1: and vegetables and flowers their color. Um. They're also useful 106 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: in our bodies because they have antioxidant properties. Um. This 107 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: is part of why the advice is always to eat 108 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: variously colored fruit and vegetables for their various properties. Yeah. Um, 109 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: but yes, the first time that we encountered this specific 110 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: pigment was in the butterfly pea. So it was named 111 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: turnin or perhaps ternatin after a species. Because the flavor 112 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: is so mild but the color is so bright, the 113 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: flowers are used as as a food color or dye, 114 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: perhaps more often than than a flame for ingredient. Um. 115 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: The flowers are for that purpose dried and sold either 116 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: whole or in powder format around Southeast Asia. Um. It's 117 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: used to color rice and like like blue rice and 118 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:19,119 Speaker 1: steamed dumplings and um, pretty desserts like like sticky rice cakes. Um, 119 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: either blue or purple. I've read that in some cultures 120 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: blue as a morning color. So it's used in funerary 121 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: meals and uh like like desserts served at funerals. Um. 122 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: It's also used to dye other things like cloth and hair, 123 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: used to darken hair and cover up grays um and uh. Okay. 124 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 1: So I tried to get into this, and I don't 125 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: understand chemistry that well, but basically and that wasn't intended 126 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: to be a pun um uh. This stuff changes color 127 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: with pH level because of the way that that color 128 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: molecule reacts with its ironment at different pH levels, like 129 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:08,359 Speaker 1: the actual molecular structure changes and thus absorbs and reflects 130 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: different colors of light when it's at a different level 131 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: of pH. Um. At a at a low pH level 132 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: and acidic environment like lemon juice, um, the molecule is 133 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 1: a positive ion, a charged particle that absorbs certain colors 134 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: of light and reflects others. It reflects red pink colors, 135 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: so it looks like hot pink um. But as the 136 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: pH level rises to neutral like plain water, it loses 137 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: protons and thus absorbs and reflects different colors um, blue, 138 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: purple colors instead. Um, and it can go back and forth. Um. 139 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: So there you go. That's what I understand about it. 140 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: That's all. That's that's all I can say. That's so cool. 141 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: It is really neat. If you haven't seen this, like 142 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: oh yeah, it's startling, like because it's it's such a 143 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: pretty bright blue and it's such a pretty bright purple 144 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: to pink um, and and it just like before your 145 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: eyes like magic. Um. Yeah, changes yeah, I think I 146 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: read somewhere the science on this one, listeners is very intense. Yeah, 147 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: I think I read somewhere somebody did like a t 148 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: L d R. It's very sensitive to p got it. 149 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, And so you can even play like like 150 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: within like like acidic because like milk is a little 151 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: bit more acidic than water, like lemon juice is a 152 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: lot more acidic, so you can you can really play 153 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: with the exact shading, um, depending on what you want 154 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: to do. So yeah, so cool. Yeah, yeah, it's really 155 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: it's really pretty. It's just so pretty. Um. But that's 156 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: not the only thing that these plants are good for. 157 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: Um Because like other members of the gooom family, it's 158 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: really useful in agriculture because it's a nitrogen fixer. Um. 159 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: So okay, so plants and animals need nitrogen. But it's 160 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: hard for most of us to get it out of 161 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: the air. Luckily, there are some bacteria in this genus 162 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: called Rhizobium um that are just aces at doing this 163 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: UM and those bacteria have this buddy buddy relationship with 164 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: some plants like lagoons where they live in their roots 165 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 1: and uh get nutrients from the plant, but also collect 166 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: nitrogen and then when they die, that nitrogen stays in 167 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:39,359 Speaker 1: the soil for that plant or other plants to use UM. 168 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: And not all plants harbor these bacteria, so plants that 169 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: do are really cool for for use like in rotation 170 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: with other crops um or as like a like a 171 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: grazing kind of thing to keep the to keep the 172 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: soil fertile. M. Yeah. Furthermore, the butterfly p plant contains 173 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: UM use a natural insecticide compounds that are being used 174 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,319 Speaker 1: in some places as like an eco friendly alternative to 175 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 1: conventional pesticides. Right. Uh, and what about the nutrition, Well, 176 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: unless you're unless you're drinking like a lot of tea 177 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 1: or like eating a lot of rice colored with this stuff, 178 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: you're you're probably you're probably not getting enough of it 179 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: to make any kind of difference one way or another. 180 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: But but the butterfly pea flower is being investigated for 181 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: medicinal properties um. Antioxidants are good yeah um, and has 182 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: been used in both traditional Chinese and iur Vedic medicines 183 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: for forever. Um. Yeah. I don't know. It's pretty use 184 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: it if you like it, saber motto, Yeah you got it. Yeah. Yeah. 185 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: Numbers were hard to get by, but we have one 186 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: number for you, a single number. Yes. So the global 187 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: market for the flowers is currently worth a little bit 188 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: under a hundred million dollars a year and growing UM, 189 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: with the highest growth expected in the powder format because 190 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: it's pretty convenient. Um. And there aren't really any like 191 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: major global players in production, UM, but rather lots of 192 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: smaller producers. And that's part of why I think numbers 193 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: are hard to come by for this one. Yeah. Yeah. 194 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: And I, like I said, I braved my pantry to 195 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: find mine, and it was a journey, but it was 196 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: it was not a brand. I'd heard of it from Thailand. Um. 197 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: And I have the flowers like dry flowers. I didn't. 198 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: I haven't seen the powder, but I'm intrigued by it. Hmm. Well, 199 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: we do have a lot of history for you. We do. 200 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: But first we're going to take a quick break for 201 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: a word from our sponsors, and we're back. Thank you sponsored, Yes, 202 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: thank you. So the butterfly pea is believed to have 203 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: originated in South America and or Asia, though the etymology 204 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: throws in some confusion, as its wont to do since 205 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: it's often traced. The word is often traced to the 206 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: Indonesian island of Ternate, though this is further complicated by 207 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:38,359 Speaker 1: the fact that some researchers suspect see turnentilla Um the genus, 208 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: the name, the scientific name excuse me, is an ancient 209 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: hybrid that can trace its roots to Southeast Asia, but 210 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: also Claturia. The genus name is believed to have come 211 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: from the Greek word collect tourists or something like that, 212 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: for the female genitalia that it resembles. Yeah, what seems 213 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: to have happened here is that uh Linneus, who created 214 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: that genus and species name, got his specimens of the 215 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: plant from um, and yeah, named it for that location 216 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: and for lady parts. So yeah, that was a surprise 217 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: researching this um. In one scientific article, they suggested, perhaps 218 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: we can only say for sure that the butterfly pe 219 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: originated somewhere along the Indian ocean. UH had a lot 220 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: of graphs and I was very impressed, but they were like, 221 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: it's probably somewhere around here, but we're not sure. But 222 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: we're not sure. UM. Throughout history it has been used 223 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: as animal fodder, for cosmetic purposes, as an insect repellent, 224 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: and medicinally to treat a whole range of things like diabetes, fever, inflammation, pain, 225 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: reprojective health, fighting depression, helping hair follicles, digestive, respiratory and 226 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: nervous system issues, and as a way to increase cognitive function. 227 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: UM also yes culinary purposes, including edible die uh. So 228 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: the package I have promotes skin and eye benefits and 229 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: claims that this ingredient has been used for centuries by 230 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: women as an afro dzy. I didn't find that in 231 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: the research, but that's what the package, well, the afro 232 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: dasiac part. I didn't find that in the research, but 233 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: the package says that right old front, So all right, 234 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: something that's something I you know, it does It does 235 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: look like a volva, that's so, it certainly does. By 236 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: the seventeenth century, this ingredient was present in India and 237 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: it's perhaps around this time that it found its way 238 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: into tea and other dishes like dumplings. It also made 239 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: its way to places like Thailand and Malaysia, where it 240 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: has been written about in literature for centuries. Soon after, 241 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: the butterfly pea made its way to Europe. After that, 242 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: it's thought to have been introduced and naturalized to Hawaii 243 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: by eighteen seventy one, where it was a favored orna 244 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: mental at the time. It was in the Caribbean as 245 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: early as eighteen eighty one, Puerto Rico and e eighty five, 246 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: Jamaica in nineteen hundred, the Bahamas in nineteen o three, 247 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: Cuba nineteen o four, and the Dominican Republic in nineteen ten, 248 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: and according to Mount Vernon dot Org, George Washington received 249 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: butterfly pea flowers from his grandson in law in sevente Okay, cool. Yeah. 250 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: It was recorded in Australia by nineteen sixty eight, though 251 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: it was probably there earlier. The cultivar mil gara was 252 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: introduced there in nineteen nine. From what I understand, this 253 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: was a very specific like animal fodder cultivar, But there 254 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: was a lot of papers from Australia specifically about this. Yeah. Yeah, 255 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 1: it seems like, uh, the I mean it makes sense. 256 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 1: It's closer to where it is from than for example, 257 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: we are um so M. And as we mentioned, the 258 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: butterfly pea flower has been the subject of a lot 259 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: of scientific inquiry due to its perceived medicinal qualities uh 260 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: and the color. In the nineteen fifties, some of the 261 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: first scientific studies into its potential pharmacological use took place. 262 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: This is also about the time when yes, that nitrogen 263 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: fixing capacity, people started looking into that and how it 264 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: could be of use. When it comes to that um 265 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: in the sea turnia, anthocyanins called turn ittins, responsible for 266 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: that color the distinctive hue were isolated for the first time, 267 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: and this laid the foundation for further experiments, including determining 268 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:50,239 Speaker 1: the structure of the terratins. And you all, there are 269 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: so many papers that I found that were like, this 270 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: is how we found the structure of the specific one, 271 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: and this is how we did it from this one, 272 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: and it's really cool and definitely outside of our scope. Yes, 273 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: totally agree. I was like, I am overwhelmed and thrilled 274 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: at once. But I'm not the one that I think 275 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 1: can make this any clearer. I can tell you it's cool. 276 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: M hmm. It seems to be around twenty ish that 277 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: the butterfly pea flower really started to trend in the 278 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: United States, which makes sense in our time of Instagram foods. 279 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: It was a really perfect fit for making uniquely colored 280 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: and color changing in some cases foods. Uh. Those always 281 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: good to remember and respect the history of something, and 282 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: it has been used as an ingredient in some places 283 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: for centuries. Oh yeah, at least at least, so just 284 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: keep that in mind, um, bartenders of the newest craft 285 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: cocktail wave that we've talked about a lot like it 286 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: because it abused drinks with that bright blue color or 287 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: other bright colors without the mixers. And the eighties those 288 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: bright as you said, like artificial dye mixers that so 289 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: many of us have an aversion to nowadays or have 290 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: like bad memories associated with this, right. Yeah. M was 291 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: also the year that the first gin that's colored with 292 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,880 Speaker 1: the flowers was released. Um, it's called ink Gin. It's 293 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: from Australia. Mm hmm. There are a couple of them now. Also, 294 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 1: I ran across a very popular cocktail that I'd never 295 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: heard of, what was called the mood Ring cocktail, which 296 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: is like you freeze ice with the butterfly pea flower 297 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 1: and then as it melts changes the like in Starbucks 298 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: launched a limited edition Butterfly Pea Lemonade cold brew. I 299 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't be surprised if this comes back again. People get 300 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 1: excited about very brightly colored drinks. Yeah, absolutely, colors they 301 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: nice uh and uh in um. The first commercial pest 302 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,479 Speaker 1: side made from butterfly pe extracts was approved for use 303 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: in Australia. Yeah. I really recommend I look it up 304 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: if you haven't seen it. It is brighter. Like every 305 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 1: time I make this cocktail that I'm making for Star 306 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: Wars Day, I'm so shocked at how beautiful bright it is. Yeah. Yeah, 307 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: it's very striking. Um, just a really, I mean, and yeah, 308 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: it is so interesting. It's a it's a very it's 309 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: a relatively rare color in plants, and when it occurs 310 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: in that kind of saturation, it's just like, oh yeah, yes, 311 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: is an attention grabber for sure. Um. And I would 312 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: love to hear from any listeners because there is a 313 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: big culture of t uh made with that and dumplings 314 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 1: and other things, of course, but I just love to 315 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: hear about that because that was sort of news to me. 316 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,959 Speaker 1: Um oh absolutely yeah. I saw so many interesting um 317 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: tie dishes and oh just right right like every everywhere 318 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: around that area, and I want to eat all of 319 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: them and learn more. And so yeah, if if y'all 320 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 1: have any experience with it, please do right in, Yes, 321 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: please do. In the meantime, I think that's all we 322 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: have to say about this for now. It is. We 323 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: do have some male from listeners who have already written in, 324 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: and we are going to get into that as soon 325 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: as we get into another quick break for a word 326 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: from our sponsors. And we're back. Thank you sponsored, Yes, 327 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: thank you, We're back with this snor Star Wars. Is 328 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 1: that it was that a superman whose stars? Oh get out, 329 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 1: I'm leaving. Yeah, let's seeing myself. I cannot let this 330 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: Standna's all right, I knew that was going to be chricky. 331 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: I love you too much and just miss you. Thank you, 332 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: thank you, Like I have control over this. Ah well, 333 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: Victoria wrote. As soon as I saw your recent episode 334 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: on my feed and it's little description mentioned butter sculptures, 335 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 1: I thought, hey, I have a ram butter mold. I 336 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 1: bought it because I do love expanding my butter mold 337 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 1: collection and I'm born you're the sheep. So I thought 338 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: it fitting and had to make one to show you. 339 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 1: The place I bought it from has a little or 340 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: lamb aversion without the rams horns, but I liked the 341 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: ram better. Bonus butter sculptures I've seen at grocery stores 342 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 1: and what I've made since I last sent a message 343 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: to you about butter. I really enjoy making and eating butter. Yes, 344 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,959 Speaker 1: I believe we read Victoria's pass messages about butter. Message 345 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 1: about butter on here, there's a delightful many pictures were sent. 346 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: Uh and the ram is very cute indeed, yes, yeah, 347 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: oh and that's so interesting. I don't feel like I 348 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 1: saw Uh, I don't. I didn't run across any horned sheep. 349 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, you're right, you're right. I like the horns. 350 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, me too, me too. Maybe it was because 351 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: I was specifically searching for lamb, not like ram or Yeah. 352 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, it's super cute. And we have many 353 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: of you have sent in pictures, and again, thank you 354 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: you've done as a true service. Yes, they're so great 355 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: and every time. Yeah, yes, and Victoria also sent pictures 356 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: from the grocery store has mentioned and I just was like, 357 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: I have never seen this in my life. I don't 358 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: know if I've someholse or past it um passed by, yeah, yeah, 359 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: yeah by sorry, yeah, but I just have never noticed it, 360 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: and I'm kind of sad about it. I'm sure it 361 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: would have given me great joy. Yeah, I don't think. 362 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: I don't think it's like a local thing around around 363 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Greater Atlanta area. Um it's or at least 364 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: I haven't. I haven't seen it here either, maybe one day, Lauren. 365 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: One can only hope we need a new hope. You 366 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: don't know how how many Star Wars puns I've been 367 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 1: preventing myself from making. Oh why never hold back a pun? 368 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: I'm afraid it's like the dark Side. I'm afraid once 369 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: I get a taste, it's you'll never hear from me again. 370 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 1: It's just star We need to talk about the history. Annie, 371 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: and I'm like, choke on your aspirations. I watched her 372 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 1: one yesterday, so it's fresh on the brain. Okay, okay, uh. 373 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 1: Vanula wrote, I love your podcast. I visited New Orleans 374 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: three years ago and eight foods and things thinking of you. 375 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 1: I'm writing about the current episode of growing up in 376 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: Australia and now living in New Zealand. Black current cordial 377 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: is almost ubiquitous. I thought you'd enjoy the story about 378 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: how to fourteen year old science Maven's took down a 379 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 1: multinational company from misleading ads. Turns out the cordial is 380 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 1: not as rich in vitamin C. On a side note, 381 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: I had been in New Zealand for eighteen months before 382 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: hearing the ambrosia episode. I talked to people at work 383 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: who were horrified I hadn't had any, but then lockdowns 384 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 1: and no gathering, so I still haven't had any. If 385 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,800 Speaker 1: you're interested in very strangely localized foods, may I recommend 386 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: bunny chow. It's something that my mum's makes from South Africa. 387 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: I have warm, fuzzy memories of her making it. We 388 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: were rarely back in South Africa due to apartheid and 389 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: my parents having a mixed marriage. My dad, a linguist, 390 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: was always fascinated about the origins of the name and 391 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: the development of an ethnic cuisine away from the mother culture. 392 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: Then we found this article about the history of bunny 393 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: chow and how it was developed to feed black Indian 394 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: or people of color when they weren't allowed to eat 395 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: in a restaurant. Mm hmm, yeah, I haven't heard of that. 396 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: I would be interested to look it up for sure. Um, 397 00:27:55,160 --> 00:28:00,200 Speaker 1: and I love this I Ambrosia's to one of my 398 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: very favorite episodes. To get to try it soon? Yeah. 399 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: Oh and let us know specifically what kind it is? 400 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: Tell us all about it? Yes, yes, and thanks for 401 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: sending this story. I hadn't heard about that. About the 402 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: he's too young, Yeah, this company too young science mavens. 403 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 1: Excuse me taking on this company? About this current cordial Yeah, 404 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 1: I love it, get it, get it? Yes? Yes, Well, 405 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: thanks to both of those listeners for writing in Happy 406 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: Star Wars Day, Happy Star Wars Day. May the fourth 407 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: be with you? Yes, yes, And you can write to 408 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: us to our email is hello at savor pod dot com. 409 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: We're also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, 410 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: and Instagram at saver pod and we do hope to 411 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: hear from you. Savor is production of my Heart Radio. 412 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,080 Speaker 1: For more podcasts my heart Radio, you can visit the 413 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 414 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: your favorite shows. Thanks as always to our super producers 415 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. Thanks to you for listening, 416 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: and we hope that lots more good things are coming 417 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 1: your way.