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!
PDF 92 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.
Are your chia seeds raw?
I assume so. However some brands specifically state they are raw. So I am curious if there is anything that would make your seeds not raw.
We have been eating chia for breakfast for several years and, in addition to benefiting from its nutrient content we find it very effective for regulating the bowel.
Although we have on occasion milled the seeds in a coffee grinder, we prefer the texture of the whole seeds. We often make a gel by mixing the seeds with water before adding them to yoghurt and freshly chopped fruit. We sometimes add a little cream from grass-fed cows.
Because of their antioxidant content, chia seeds have an unusually long shelf life for a food that is rich in omega 3 PUFA. It is worth noting that chia seeds, like other plant sources of omega 3, contain ALA (alpha linolenic acid) rather than the highly unsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are found in fish and algae.
The book CHIA by Ayerza and Coates gives a very interesting account of the history of chia together with detailed analysis of the potential health benefits of the seeds.
Regards
John
I am interested in the claims by some chia seed companies that chia seed lowers LDL and raises HDL cholesterol, in addition to triglycerides. Other foods high in Omega 3′s, such as fish oil (EPA/DHA) only lower triglycerides. Can you comment on the HDL,LDL, and triglyceride effects of Chia seeds? Thank you.
Hello, Can you tell me which retail stores
in the Midwest will be carrying the Bob’s Red Mill Chia seeds?
Thank you!
Hi Melissa,
Unfortunately, we do not know which stores carry which products. You can view stores in your area using the store finder on our website. http://www.bobsredmill.com/storefinder.php I recommend calling ahead. I also recommend asking for the product if they do not carry it, as this is the very best way to get a product into your store. I’m sorry that we cannot be of more help.
I have heard that you can take chia seed to keep you full longer – and eating less. How is the best manner to take chia seed?
Robin- unlike flax, chia seed can be eaten whole to receive the full nutritional value. There are many different ways to eat chia. For a great breakfast that will keep you full, I recommend combining chia with oatmeal. People have added chia to smoothies and just mixed the seeds with juice, as well. There really is no right or wrong way to eat chia. This smoothie sounds delicious and would be a good way to eat chia: http://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes_detail.php?rid=1680
How many grams of omega3 are in each tablespoon full?
I use Chia seeds in my Greek Yogert every morning and on toast&peanut butter for a snack and also use it like pepper an my meals.Very good to curb eating larger portions
Hi Lisa,
There are 2282 mg of Omega-3 and 752 mg of Omega-6 in each tablespoon of Chia.
Do you have any suggestions for how to use the chia seed/gel as an egg alternative in baked goods?
Chia works very well as an egg-alternative. Here is a good recipe for doing so: http://www.veganbaking.net/vegan-recipes/eggless-binders/chia-seed-binder.html
I’m not sure that you really need to grind them for this to work, but I can see the appeal of having them ground instead of as seeds in your baked good.
Doesn’t grinding chia diminish its nutrient content? What about thermal preparation such as baking–won’t that do something to the Omega-3s? I love using it, just wondering how much value other than additional fiber I’m adding…
Ellie: Whenever you grind something some nutritional content is lost, it’s the nature of the beast. Depending on how and when you grind Chia Seed, however, you can retain almost all of the fiber, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and vitamins. We recommend a coffee grinder and using them immediately after grinding for the best nutritional profile. The great thing about Chia is that it does not need to be ground. You can eat the whole seeds, intact and your body can break them down for you. Our seeds are whole, not ground.
In my opinion there is no difference between black and white chia seeds. It has helped me deal with the side effects of the thyroid medication that I have taken.
I have just started eating Chia Seeds and I am pretty pleased with the way I have been feeling lately! I usually keep it simple and either pour Chia seeds directly into my water bottles (weird consistency, but easy to get down), or I sprinkle them on oatmeal/yogurt/or salad! They are often rather expensive and sometimes not made on gluten free facilities, yet I did find some GNC coupons as well as some brands there that guarantee they are manufactured/packed in Gluten Free facilities!
Last week’s Dr. Oz show included a segment on Chia Seeds and a recipe for a no fat added, no egg, muffin recipe. They had great nutritional value with very low calories. I plan to look up the recipe on his website as soon as I stop by Bob’s Red Mill store for my Chia Seeds.
I have heard the chia seeds are good for hair loss so have wanted to try them out.
Love your products so much,
Jan