The ‘Magical’ Blue Flower Changing Farmers’ Fortunes in India
January 05, 2026 | Source: BBC | by Priti Gupta
“Until a few years ago, the butterfly pea flower was just another climbing plant in my village,” says Nilam Brahma who lives in Anthaigwlao, a village in the northeastern Indian state of Assam.
Butterfly pea, also known as aparajita in India, grows as a vine and has a striking blue flower.
Around two years ago, Brahma heard that local women were making money selling the flowers, which can be made into tea, or a blue dye.
She decided to join them.
“The results surprised even me. The first time I earned $50 (£37) from selling dried flowers, I felt a shock. It made me believe I could control my own future,” she says.
The experiment led to a small business.
“I applied for a small loan and invested in solar dryers. The machines helped me dry flowers faster, preserve their colour, and meet the quality standards demanded by buyers.”