“Irsa’s Dream”

Nocturnal Blossom: Butterfly Pea Flower Infused Gin Illustration for 18th Street Distillery's Street Artisan Series

A beautiful Thai folklore describes a fantastical origin story for the magical plant. They say, a thousand and one years ago in the time when the creatures of the Himmapan Forest still roamed among humans, there lived a woman named Isra. One night while Irsa was sleeping Kinnari, a half woman-half bird being, came to her in a dream and beckoned her to follow. She brought Irsa through her enchanted forest along a floral scented path until they came to an unusual blue flower that Isra had never seen before.

"Take this with you and plant it in your garden so you may enchant your village." Kinnari told her. Isra brought the marvelous blue flower back through her dream and shared it with her people.