chia seeds

Salvia hispanica, commonly known as Chia, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. It was cultivated by the Aztec in pre-Columbian times, and was so valued that it was given as an annual tribute by the people to the rulers. It is still widely used in Mexico and South America, with the seed s ground for nutritious drinks and as a food source. It is also used for chia pet planters. Growth Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is very rich in omega-3 fatty acid s, since the seed s yield 25-30% extractable oil, mostly α-linolenic acid (ALA). It also is a source of antioxidant s and a variety of amino acid s. Etymology The word chia is derived from the Nahuatl word chian, meaning oily. The present Mexican state of Chiapas ...