Introducing Chia Seed & Giveaway
Chia is a good source of protein and dietary fiber.
Over the years, we have received many requests for chia seed and we are happy to announce that we are now producing black chia seed. Chia has been recognized by health professionals worldwide for being an excellent source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Chia contains the same amount of Omega-3 as Flaxseed Meal, but does not need to be ground before consuming to reap the benefits.
The seeds of the Chia plant are small, about the size of poppy seeds, and range in color from silvery white to black. Our chia seed is mostly black, but contains some white seeds throughout. They make a great addition to salads, breads, hot cereal, and yogurt. A traditional staple of the Inca and Mayan peoples, chia was consumed by mixing the seeds with agua fresca or juice and taken as a ritual in the morning to power them through the day.
The soluble fiber in chia seed produces a gel-like substance when combined with water. This gel takes longer to digest in the stomach, which keeps you feeling full longer. We’ve done some experimenting with chia seed here and have found the gel works well as an egg replacer in baked goods. Chia seed is naturally gluten free, but is not being packaged in our gluten free facility.
Giveaway:
To celebrate chia, I’m giving away 30 packages of chia seed to my lucky readers.
There are 30 chances to win and three ways to enter, so here’s how to increase your odds:
Blog: In the comment section below, tell me what you’d like to know about chia and we’ll not only enter you in the contest, but try our best to get an answer for you. I’ll select 10 winners randomly from all those who post on our blog by Monday, 02/08 at 5 pm Pacific Time. Winners will be announced on Tuesday!
Facebook: Post a comment/question on our Facebook page (to make sure you don’t get missed, please use “Chia Contest” somewhere in your comment), 10 winners will be randomly selected from all Facebook entrants. I’ll select 10 winners randomly from all those who post on our facebook page by Monday, 02/08 at 5 pm Pacific Time. Winners will be announced on Tuesday!
Twitter: Tweet a comment/question to us: @bobs_red_mill (use #chia to tag it), 10 winners will be randomly selected from all Twitter entrants. I’ll select 10 winners randomly from all those who send us a tweet by Monday, 02/08 at 5 pm Pacific Time. Winners will be announced on Tuesday!
74 Responses to “Introducing Chia Seed & Giveaway”
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If the seeds are added to a yeast bread dough with the dry ingredients, will they get gummy and soft during the mixing/rising process?
I was wondering what the calorie count is on the Chia seeds.
If it is naturally gluten free why don’t you package it in your gluten free facility???????? Now only 3 of the 4 members of our house will be able to eat it.
Thanks!!
Do you have plans to package the chia in a gluten free facility? I think this is very important and will increase your sales. I am asking two questions. Can I grow the seeds from the package?
We are not packaging it in our gluten free facility because it is cleaned on shared lines before it comes to our facility. The lines also process wheat and we do not feel comfortable labeling something as gluten free when it is being produced on shared lines with wheat. It could be that we find a supplier who is not doing this and make the change in the future. I am sorry for the inconvenience.
We are not packaging it in our gluten free facility because it is cleaned on shared lines before it comes to our facility. The lines also process wheat and we do not feel comfortable labeling something as gluten free when it is being produced on shared lines with wheat. It could be that we find a supplier who is not doing this and make the change in the future. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Yes, you can grow chia from the seeds we are selling.
@Lisa Chia has about 70 calories per 15 gram tablespoon.
@Cassidy… how did you know that I might have tried it in my pie crusts!?!?!?! I’ve put flax in my pie crusts many times! Did my father (who is not as big of a fan of flax as I am) call you? hee, hee
Can you grind the chia seeds yourself in order to make chia flour?
I use Chia seeds every morning. I sprinkle it over my cereal (puffed wheat, half cup of Kashi Strawberry fields, with almond milk). It doesn’t add any taste, but a different texture. I’ve also made the gel with sweetener and almond milk and it’s like a very fine tapioca (watery if you add too much liquid).
@Ashley: Yes, you can grind the chia seeds to make a chia powder/flour. You can probably do this in a coffee grinder or in a spice grinder.
Thanks Bob’s Red Mill for such a fun contest and for the chia seeds! I look forward to cooking with them!
I just weighed a teaspoon of chia seeds on a highschool triple-beam balance. I got 2.65 grams per teaspoon. So a tablespoon would be 7.95 g, which is not very close to 15g. That’s a big difference from what another commenter posted above!
@Renee We’ll take a look at it and see if there is an error somewhere. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
What is the ALA and lignan content in Chia seeds? How does this complare to Flax seed?
@Joanne Chia seeds contain about 2900mg of Omega-3 and 1100mg of Omega-6 in a 15 gram serving. More info can be found here: http://www.thechiaco.com.au/content/omega-3
What stores around Portland carry Bob’s Red Mill Chia Seeds? New Seasons?
Hi Curtis! You know, I’m not sure. I’ll have to do some asking around here, but should be able to find out shortly. This item may not yet be available at any stores, as it can take up to 3 months from product announcement to being on the shelf due. You can always come down to Milwaukie and pick it up at our store, however. If you haven’t been, it’s really a lot of fun.
@Curtis No stores in Portland have picked this item up yet, as it has not yet been introduced to the trade. You can purchase it at our mill store, but expect to see it on stores shelves in the next 3 months at places such as Whole Foods, New Seasons and possibly Fred Meyer
Dear Bobs Red Mill – Would Chia Seeds be considered “a problem seed” like tomato seeds,etc for people with diverticulitis, or NOT since they gel?
Can you sprout chia seeds?
@Dianne You can, but it’s tricky and I don’t have directions for doing so. Here are some basic directions: http://www.sproutpeople.com/seed/print/chia.html
Will Chia seeds cause problems if you have diverticulusis (holy intestines)? I have been using the seeds whole this past week and don’t seem to be having a problem. Would it be better to grind them?
@Joanna I highly recommend talking to your doctor. I do not know if they would be ok for you or not and I would hate to give you the wrong advice. You do not need to grind them to get their health benefits.