Flavour origin: Mexico
The chia, scientifically called Salvia Hispánica is native to Mexico and Guatemala and has been cultivated since pre-Columbian times by the Aztecs, although unfortunately, it fell into oblivion for centuries.
Recently it has been rediscovered as a superfood (it is one of the plant species with the highest concentration of omega 3 ), not in vain the legend says that the Aztec warriors could sustain themselves all day fed with a spoonful of chia, and today its dietary virtues seduce the world.
Before the conquer of America, chia was a staple food for the civilizations of Mexico; its cultivation was probably the third in economic importance, surpassed only by corn and beans. But with the arrival of the Spanish, the cultivation of chia disappeared during the colonies, displaced by cereals brought from Spain, and survived only in isolated mountainous areas of Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Nowadays, the largest producing center in Mexico is in Acatic, Jalisco, from where increasing quantities are exported to Japan, the United States, and Europe.
Some health benefits of chia seeds:
5 times the amount of calcium than milk
3 times the amount of antioxidants as blueberries
3 times the amount of iron as spinach
2 times the amount of fiber as oats
2 times the amount of protein of any vegetable
2 times more potassium than bananas
There are many ways to include chia seeds into your daily diet, here are some ideas:
Add a tablespoon of chia to your coffee or yogurt.
Sprinkle a tablespoon over your salad to keep it crisp.
Make cakes, muffins, or bread with your usual recipe and sprinkle a tablespoon or two before baking.
Make chia jelly by mixing fruit juices with one or two tablespoons of seeds.
Add a couple of tablespoons to your cold pasta or potato salads.
Make fruit smoothies with milk and add a tablespoon of chia to it.
As you can see, chia seeds are very versatile and can be consumed in both sweet and savory recipes. There are infinite ways you can use this superfood! We encourage you to experiment with them and tell us what recipes you have made with these seeds @clocfood.