Butterfly pea is good for your body

Butterfly pea as a plant

A mysterious plant with blue petals and green beans

The butterfly pea is called "butterfly pea" because of its butterfly-like petal shape and its status as a legume. The robust butterfly pea, which can thrive in a variety of environments, has been used as a folk remedy since ancient times. The Butterfly Pea Research Institute, Inc. was the first in the world to successfully establish mass cultivation techniques for edible butterfly pea, which has led to its distribution as a health food. Meanwhile, the blue pigment derived from butterfly pea is attracting much attention from the perspective of the SDGs as a natural blue coloring agent that can replace synthetic coloring agents.

Butterfly pea as a health food ingredient

Unique ingredient: butterfly pea anthocyanin

Butterfly pea contains a large amount of the antioxidant anthocyanin, a type of polyphenol found in abundance in blueberries and other fruits. The antioxidant anthocyanin is a noteworthy component that many scholars and experts are researching, with potential applications in beauty and health. Demand is expected to continue in the future, with the aim of addressing eye strain in a digital society and increasing health awareness.
The Butterfly Pea Research Institute has been conducting research into the components of Okinawan butterfly peas. It has been discovered that Okinawan butterfly peas contain 850mg of anthocyanins per 100g, which is about 10 times the amount found in blueberries.

An encounter with the mysterious plant "Butterfly Pea"

Our founder, Wang, learned about butterfly pea in Thailand, a flower used to dye clothes. He thought it was an interesting flower, so he looked into it and discovered that the dye was made from anthocyanin-derived ingredients. As he continued his research, he found that butterfly pea was used in Ayurveda. He then wondered if butterfly pea could also be eaten.

An encounter with the mysterious plant "Butterfly Pea"

"Let's start a business selling butterfly pea tea that changes color," he thought. He imported butterfly pea from Thailand and started a business in Japan. Its vibrant color, which was perfect for posting on social media, was becoming a big hit.

An encounter with the mysterious plant "Butterfly Pea"

As butterfly peas became more popular, customers began asking, "Is there any domestically produced butterfly pea available?" We searched for a place in Japan where they could be produced, and found Okinawa.

An encounter with the mysterious plant "Butterfly Pea"

However, the current state of agriculture in Okinawa was harsh. "More than 70% of farmers in Okinawa are over 65 years old, sugarcane is hard work, and the pesticides used to grow lit chrysanthemums cause health problems and environmental pollution... I fear that Okinawa's agriculture will disappear in 15 years... Is there any way to solve this problem?"

An encounter with the mysterious plant "Butterfly Pea"

Butterfly pea is a legume, so it can be cultivated without the use of pesticides, and harvesting is easy on the body. Rich in anthocyanins, eating it can contribute to people's beauty and health, and may even "make people and the planet healthier." Butterfly pea, this is it. And so began the challenge of industrializing butterfly pea, something that no one has yet been able to achieve.

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Why Okinawan Butterfly Pea is so high quality

Butterfly pea is a plant that grows in Okinawa.

Okinawa, blessed with abundant sunshine and mineral-rich water, is the perfect environment for growing high-quality butterfly pea plants. With an average yearly temperature of over 23 degrees and many sunny days, you can soak up plenty of sunshine. Surrounded by nature, Okinawa has access to high-quality water, making it the perfect environment for growing safe and secure butterfly pea plants.

Butterfly pea is a mass of nutrients in itself. When it is made into powder, it is not mixed with anything or chemically synthesized compounds are added. It is harvested when it is in good condition, and has the amazing ability to produce antioxidants and nutrients through photosynthesis and absorbing minerals. The Butterfly Pea Research Institute has set up a production base here, and delivers a variety of products made with Okinawan butterfly pea to you.

Sustainable farming methods that are kind to both people and the earth

We use 100% domestic ingredients, cultivate without pesticides or residual pesticides, and produce butterfly peas in a way that is kind to both people and the environment.

The present and future of butterfly pea research

Butterfly pea research professionals

"We want to use biotechnology to solve social issues and make people and the planet healthier. Driven by the vision of our researchers, we have continued our research into butterfly pea for many years. We cultivate butterfly pea on a large scale with safe quality, and turn it into natural pigments and health foods to provide to society. Our research team supports this multifaceted business development.

Three laboratories pursuing the potential of butterfly pea and biotechnology

Institute of Industrial Science (Okinawa, Japan)

The Butterfly Pea Research Institute was the first in Japan to establish mass cultivation techniques for butterfly peas. Since then, production, harvesting, and drying methods have been constantly improved. We are conducting research to continue producing butterfly peas at low cost, with high quality, in a stable manner, and with minimal environmental impact.

We are also conducting research into production methods that increase the concentration of specific components and how to separate and recover these components, with the aim of expanding the potential of butterfly pea through the development of production technology. Utilizing the knowledge we have cultivated, we will also take on the challenge of producing various products other than butterfly pea in the future.

Institute of Industrial Science (Toyama, Japan)

We are researching applied technologies for butterfly pea production. We are also conducting research and development for commercial use and scaling up technologies that have been found to be useful.

Biomass Technology Institute (Thailand)

Thailand is a country with a warm climate all year round and a rich biodiversity. At the Biomass Technology Research Institute, we are conducting environmental research that makes use of the soil in a way that is unique to Thailand, and are researching the biomass production and utilization of butterfly pea and other plants, mainly for industrial products.

We also collaborate with local universities and companies, and as the Butterfly Pea Institute's first overseas research institute, we are looking ahead to and promoting a global strategy for research and development.