Chia seeds
Commercial buyers include bakeries, cereal manufacturers, flour mills, equestrian stables, pet food manufacturers, health food stores and manufacturers, pharmacies and supermarket chains.
The market is still in its infancy but the potential for growth is enormous. For example, chia is now being used by:
- Australian bakery group Baker's Delight.
- Yarrows Bakery of New Zealand, who supply frozen breads world wide and supply all Subway outlets throughout Australasia.
What is chia?
Chia seeds are from the plant Salvia hispanica, which is a member of the mint family. They are a small seed but packed full of nutrients: they are the highest known natural source of Omega-3 and also high in fibre, protein, antioxidants, calcium and a variety of minerals.
Chia seeds are easily digested as they form a gel when soaked in liquid. They can be eaten raw or used in recipes (either as whole seed, gel, or ground to a coarse flour).
Where is it from?
The chia plant has been used by humans for centuries - it was a valuable food source for Native American cultures, particularly around central America, and also used as a medicine, currency and in religious ceremonies. Chia was the third most important crop of the time, after corn and beans.
Chianergy® Chia Seeds are sourced from Central and South America, with only the highest quality seeds - containing the highest levels of Omega-3 - being accepted. We are also helping independent Australian farmers establish chia crops at various locations around the country.
Why has chia suddenly become popular?
When the Spanish conquistadors landed in the Americas they outlawed the native religious practices. Since the Aztec used important foods like chia and amaranth in their religious ceremonies, these crops were banned and the fields burned. However the Mexicans secretly continued to grow and use chia for generations.
It was not until the late 1960s that chia was “rediscovered”. Vegetarians started hearing about this high protein seed from Mexico, that gave the user more energy and helped with aches and pains. Word spread and this amazing little seed has slowly grown in popularity since then.
100% Natural nutrition
Unlike other sources of Omega-3 (such as flax, hemp or fish) chia does not require refrigeration or additives to stay fresh.
Chia is a powerful source of antioxidants and contains more protein than many traditional cereals, 6 times more calcium than milk (by weight), 3 times more iron than spinach and 15 times more magnesium than broccoli.
More information on the nutritional value of chia seed is available here.
