Excuse me, but I must ask you what you are drinking? I’ve never seen anything like it before!
Those are the kinds of questions a girl gets asked when she’s toting this drink to a spin class. You get stares, sideways looks, and nervous smiles. The people out there are curious and they need to know that you aren’t drinking little black bugs. They need to be able to sleep at night. For goodness sake, tell them what you are drinking so they can get back to their workout!
So I tell them with a big smile, Chia bugs. Then there’s an awkward pause and even more confusion.
Ok, ok, it’s actually a healthy beverage called Chia Fresca which has been a popular drink in Mexico and Central America for many years. I’m sure many of you have heard of it before or even made it yourself. It’s made up of water, chia seeds, lemon or lime juice, and sweetener.
When chia seeds are soaked in water a gelatinous coating forms around the seed very similar to a tomato seed. This makes it very easy to swallow so the seeds don’t get stuck in your throat. Chia Fresca probably isn’t for people with texture issues (cough, cough husband), but I’ll leave that up to your discretion. I recently brought it back into my life to get a boost of Omega-3 fatty acids in my diet. It’s so much more fun than drinking plain water! Plus, it’s a total conversation starter much like bringing a Green Monster into the work place. I know you’ve been there. Well, why not bring Chia Fresca and show them just how crazy you can really be?
Here’s a quick refresher on chia seeds:
- Chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seed
- Chia seeds do not need to be ground to be absorbed by the body and they can be stored for long periods of time without going rancid
- They help with hydration due to their ability to absorb up to 9-10 times their weight in water
- Chia seeds also contain fibre, protein, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc among many other nutrients
- Chia seeds like to get stuck in your teeth. You were warned.
Chia Fresca is said to boost energy levels too. I’m not really sure if it boosts my energy or not, but I sure feel happy and hydrated when I drink it. When I have some on hand, I like to pair it with coconut water for a natural potassium boost after a tough workout, but water is just fine too.
Edited to add: Some of you were asking me about the thickness of this drink so I thought I would add a few words on this. I wouldn’t say it has a smoothie-like texture, but it’s more like a water consistency just with a whole slew of gel-y seeds in it. Does that make any sense? You just have to try it for yourself. My guess is you will either love it or hate it.
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Chia Fresca
Yield
2 cups
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Ingredients
- 2 cups water or coconut water
- 1.5 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice, or to taste
- Sweetener, to taste (I like 1/2 tbsp maple syrup)
Directions
- Add chia and water into a jar or glass and stir very well to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow the chia seeds to swell up. I like to use a jar with a lid so I can shake it up really well and break up the clumps of chia.
- Add lime or lemon juice and sweetener to taste. Stir (or shake) well to combine and enjoy!
Tip:
Chia seeds will sink and collect at the bottom of the glass quickly. Give it a good stir as needed.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Wishing you a very happy (and hydrated) weekend!!
Thanks for the post! This sounds so interesting. I just bought some Chia Seeds & can’t wait to see how I feel after it!
I just tried this – I honestly thought I would hate it because I hate texture in anything I drink. BUT I put it in a regular glass and used a straw and it’s actually quite yummy!
“isn’t for people with texture issues (cough, cough husband)” this is a very sexiest assumption that all husbands don’t like a certain taste/ texture. Men and women have the same taste buds and there has never been any survey or study to prove that men and women prefer different foods. You should be ashamed to call your self a journalist
Jack, I was referring to my OWN husband with texture issues, not all men. Relax.
Just curious if you used white or black seeds. Or does it even matter? I was at the store and unsure of what to buy
You can use either type, doesn’t matter much!
I got an idea to mix chia seeds with water, lime and stevia and putting it in those Popsicle molds..I thought the icy texture might help with the texture of the gel like chia seeds,,,What do you think about this? Do you think it would be worth a try?
I didn’t mind the texture at all – I really like it. I mixed it up with a Spark energy drink this morning (I don’t drink Spark often because of the sucralose, but today I had a all day workshop) and the healthy energy boost was great. :-)
First off, I am a huge fan of your work. Amazing recipes with stunning photography, but of course you probably hear that everyday! I am writing to request your permission to post your photo of the Chia Fresca. I am writing a blog post featuring Bob’s Red Mill’s Ancient Grains of Discovery, and I’m selecting one perfect recipe to go with each grain (something simple, healthy, and delicious). I would love to include the recipe title with link to your recipe (not reprinting recipe on my post), and a photo (with full credit of course). Do I have your permission to do so? Please let me know as soon as you can.
Thanks so much!
Mollie
PS. I am Co-Founder of The Heart’s Kitchen, a company I started two years ago after working closely with Oregon Health & Science University and their research on maternal nutrition and fetal development (the strong link between what mom eats throughout pregnancy and her child’s lifelong health). I am so excited to now dedicate my energy to supporting women & children’s health, good food, and the beautiful art of cooking! I love your story and share a similar background that has led me to this work today.
I have trouble getting my chia seeds to stay suspended in a drink form like this. They always sink. Any tips?
My husband’s response to me making this was hilarious! Going to give it a try for a pick me up after my morning run.
I found if you drink it with a straw the texture is a non issue.
hi,
absolutely love this drink. Made it and gave it to person who lives on energy drinks and sugar water and he would like to make that drink for him every day :) haha really amazing drink and so easy and funky to drink so slime :)
jana
I like to put mine in coconut water overnight so that the chia seeds have time to “come alive.” This is a healthy dose of omega-3s, the kind of “healthy fats” that keep you young and limber. Chia fresca for life!
Delicious! I just tried it with aloe vera juice, also tastes good.
i actually do love it!! xD I love the texture. I added 1 packet of truvia as my sweetner and its really good! I like biting the seeds xD hahahaha give it a try
Just so you know, there are 3 main forms of Omega 3 (EPA, DHA, and ALA). In order for the body to make use of ALA, it needs to convert it to EPA and DHA. Conversion rates are extremely poor. 8% ALA turns to EPA and 0-8% turns to DHA. Chia seeds only have ALA so even though they have a lot of Omega 3, it’s the wrong kind and our body can’t process it very effectively.
If you’re looking for a good source of Omega 3, I’d stick with fish oil…
Algae oil is a great source of DHA – and it’s eco-friendly too. That’s where the fish get theirs from anyways.
Can I store a chia & water mix at room-temperature in a closed container? Or must I refrigerate it?
I have a problem with my intestines and have to stay away from seeds do these seeds disolve in your intestinal area?
Love this! Drink it every day. Thank you!
While I’lm late to your blog and this recipe, I must tell you how grateful I am! Chia fresca is now a staple in my refrigerator, keeping me and my loved ones hydrated in the hot Arizona desert. I’ve told several friends about my chia fresca find and have finally blogged about it too http://familyanswersfast.wordpress.com/2014/09/06/love-it-chia-fresca-food-fitness/ . Thank you and I look forward to reading more from you, Angela. Beautiful weekend to you and yours ❤
where can you get these chia seed I looked at walmart and I seen different typed and even prices vary from $16-$130?