What is Chia Seeds?

Chia Seeds are the whole seeds of Salvia hispanica, a small annual in the mint family (Lamiaceae), the same family as sage, basil, and lavender. The word "chia" comes from Nahuatl, the Aztec language.

About the plant

Chia is native to Mexico and Central America, where the Aztec civilization cultivated it as a staple food alongside corn, beans, and amaranth, and used the seeds as currency. Cultivation declined sharply after Spanish colonization and was revived as a modern crop in the 1990s. Chia has a well-known physical property: mixed with water, the seeds absorb roughly nine times their weight and form a clear gel around each seed, the basis of the traditional Mexican drink "agua fresca de chia" and of chia's popularity as an egg substitute in vegan baking.

Chia Seeds: form & sizes

We carry Chia Seeds as whole seeds, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Chia Seeds in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Chia Seeds at a glance

Botanical name

Salvia hispanica

Family

Lamiaceae

Native region

Mexico and Central America

Plant part

seeds

Cultural origin

Aztec staple; "chia" is Nahuatl

Notable property

Forms a gel in water (~9x its weight absorbed)

Form

whole seeds

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb