Chia seeds’ health benefits have an ancient and interesting history. Keep reading to get the answers to all your questions about the origin and history of chia seeds.
What Kind of Plant Do Chia Seeds Come From?
Chia seeds come from a flowering plant belonging to the mint family. The scientific name is Salvia hispanica. This annual herb grows over 3 feet tall and produces attractive clusters of purple or white flowers.
Where Were Chia Seeds Grown?
Chia is native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala, and was cultivated by the Aztecs and Mayans in pre-Columbian days.
Chia seeds were a staple food of ancient cultures, ranked with maize and beans, and more popular than amaranth. Chia seed was even included in annual tributes and taxes to the Aztec priesthood and nobility.
What Does Chia Mean?
The word chia comes from the Nahuatl word chian, which means oily. Chia is part of the name to the present Mexican state of Chiapas, “chia water or river” in the Nahuatl language.
Who Eats Chia Seeds Today?
Today, Chia seeds health benefits are still widely appreciated in Mexico, as well as in Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Australia and Guatemala. The nutritious and tasty chia seeds are added whole or ground to all sorts of recipes. Click here to get chia seed recipes.
Chia seeds are becoming popular in the United States and other parts of the world. In 2008, Australia was the world’s largest producer of chia.
In 2009, chia seeds were approved as a novel food by the European Union. This decision means that chia seeds may now comprise up to 5% of a bread product’s total matter.
Click here to buy chia seeds and enjoy the health benefits for yourself!