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!!
Where is the glass water bottle from? I love it! and this idea!
I think it’s from Crate and Barrel :)
I have been drinking this non-stop since you posted this! It tastes great and is an easy way to consume chia seeds and get those great benefits of the slimy lil seed. Thank you a million times!
I will definitely be trying this soon. I have been looking for something refreshing to sip on in the afternoons while I write. The texture sounds fun to me and I think lime with coconut water would be divine. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
tried this yesterday…SO good and refreshing!
People should be warned that chia seeds lower your blood Pressure, and should not be taken if you already have low blood pressure. I am a distance runner and have very low blood pressure, and I started to add chia seeds to my smoothie every morning and I blacked out twice before I realized what was causing it.
Nope nope nope nope. Lol. Definite texture issues here.
Not only is chai a superfood for humans- it’s a superfood for dogs! It comforts their tummy, makes their coat shiny from omega 3’s and is a great source of protein. Who new chia pudding was good for me and my furry friend :) Just thought it was interesting to share!! Thanks for the great recipe!
Just found your site thanks to a friend and I’m in love already! This is awesome! I bought a big jar of chia seeds and haven’t had a clue what to do with them. Just embarking on a get fit, weightloss regime and this drink looks perfect! It kinda looks like a bubble tea which I love. I’m making it tomorrow after my workout! xx
I’ve seen those in Whole Foods!
This looks absolutely horrible. Yet I’m still considering trying it. I foresee myself having to fight my gag reflex because of the texture LOL
I feel like this would be good with iced green tea!
I MUST make this. I love koombucha with chia but I’ve never considered adding it to good old water! I bet the fresh lemon juice makes it super fresh. Thanks for the fab idea!
So neat. I am willing to give this a try, but I don’t know if I can get past the thought of drinking “tadpole eggs”. LOL Really slimy looking, but I eat chia’s every day, just not in a beverage. Will give it a shot.
I LOVE the photography for this!! Based on looks alone, I would gulp this up!! I was gonna ask if you gave them a toothy (read: chia seed) grin in spin class!
I do love chia seeds, but I think I would fall into the hate-it camp. Although chia pudding isn’t bad.
Hi, Angela, I love your blog and love the look of this drink, however, the nutrients in chia seeds are not absorbed unless they’re ground or micro-sliced. If that doesn’t happen, either from your spice grinder beforehand or your teeth while you’re imbibing, all of chia’s nutrients are flushed, literally.
Hi Pamela, Everything I’ve read over the years says that chia seeds don’t have to be ground to be absorbed. Did you find this info somewhere? I’d be curious to read more on it.
Yes, actually just last week I was reviewing the book “The Aztec Diet: Chia Power” for a magazine I write for. The book’s author, Dr. Bob Arnot, says “If you buy the whole seeds, you should grind them in a coffee-bean or other grinder, as whole seeds tend to pass through the digestive system, and eat them right away so they don’t go rancid.” I found the same to be true of flax seeds, but perhaps chia is different. Hmmm. Anyway, I think they look way cooler whole as you have presented them. Reminds me of bubble tea.
I’ll just say that chia seeds go right through me (of you know what I mean). This makes me think that I’m not getting the full nutritional benefit and that next time I buy chia, I’ll buy ground. I think it is false, all those things we have read saying that they don’t need to be ground to be absorbed by the body.
Thanks for this ! Sooo yummy. I tried your recipe and one without citrus or sweetner and i found i preferred it just water & chia!
When we’re home, I add chia seeds to oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce, etc. for my daughter and me. But…sending her food to daycare is a different story. My daycare provider is amazing but doesn’t exactly understand some of things I send for my daughter. Chia water would send her over the edge!
I love making this, and the strange looks and comments at work just make it even better!
Wow, this looks really interesting – I’ll have to give it a try soon!