These are dried butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) flowers that have been vacuum packed to maintain their freshness. The bright blue petals from the flowers of the butterfly-pea plant have been used as an ingredient in herbal tea drinks, used as a dye, and used to add natural color to various foods for centuries.
The flowers impart their blue color when steeped and have little to no flavor impact when added to beverage. One of the most distinctive characteristics of butterfly pea flower colored drinks is that it will change color when the pH balance changes. A deep blue color at neutral pH will turn purple in an acidic environment (just add a few drops of lemon juice to a tincture to see) and will continue turning more purple the more the pH is lowered.
This is a perfect natural ingredient for coloring your favorite beverage, white wine or cider blue or purple (pH dependent)! Use 1-4 oz depending on the color intensity you would like. The more you add the more intense the color.
I've seen these used in many ways to impart their color:- added to the end of the boil
- whirlpooled
- added to fermenter like a dry hop (or with dry hops)
- steeped in hot water and that "tea" added to fermenter
- added directly to the keg