Why Chia Seeds? Part 1 - History

This week we will be talking about chia seeds and where they originated. Chia seeds were a staple of Aztec and Mayan warriors and would be their main or only sustenance. Because chia is so high in protein, the soldiers would only take about a tablespoon a day to keep their energy levels up. They also used chia for medicinal purposes to treat injuries and help soothe pain. The warriors would grind the seeds had many ways of using chia seeds. They would make flour, drinks, oil, etc. The Aztecs were also paid in chia seeds rather than actual currency.

Salvia hispanica, or chia, is most commonly grown in South America where it originated. Countries such as Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, etc are the most common producers/consumers of chia seeds. Chia is considered a pseudograin, meaning a type of grain that can be used to make cereals (buckwheat, quinoa). Chia seeds belong to the Lamiaceae family, which is a type of flowering mint plant.

 ❤ Try our USDA certified organic Chia Seeds ❤

 Yummy Chia Seed Recipes

Thanks for reading this Be Still Farms Blog article. To sign up for more news/articles and/or recipes, click here. For more about us, click here. To shop our certified organic products, click here.

Please comment and share and we look forward to serving you in the future!