Ch-ch-ch-CHIA!

[the_lab_rat]

Anyone know where I can buy chia seeds? Preferably without the "pet" because I'd end up with a heck of a lot of random clay critters sitting around :p

I'd like to get them from a store rather than online, so if anyone in California knows a place near San Francisco/San Jose/Santa Cruz that carries them that'd be awesome. Chia sounds so amazing, why don't most stores carry it?? Well, if there's a good website you trust that sells them, that's cool too, I'm just impatient and want them NOW, lol :D

[Veganforlife]

Try your local HFS. If not, I get all my seeds from:
www.sproutpeople.com

Very reputible place!

[Smileen]

I had alot of trouble locating chia seeds in my area and purchased them online from Sunorganic.com. They are located in San Marcos, CA.

[the_lab_rat]

Thanks Veganforlife and Smileen!

Unfortunately the HFS doesn't have them, and Sproutpeople (which is a local company) doesn't either, though I did email them and ask if they'd carry them any time soon. So I might go with Sunorganic.com if I can't find a store around here, though theirs aren't organic... Hmm. I wonder why the trouble finding chia seeds?? You see those darn Chia Pets all over the place :p

[lavendarJ]

Okay lab rat, I've got that song embedded in my head:D


What sort of recipes will you use them for?

[the_lab_rat]

LavendarJ: Haha, I'm glad I could spread the song around, now I'm not the only one with it stuck in my head! :D

I'm planning to start a cleansing/detox tomorrow, and I've heard chia seeds are good for that and also have a lot of nutrients, so I plan to put them in my smoothies. After that's over, I'd also like to use them in recipes, like for thickening things and holding things together... Well, assuming I can ever find them :rolleyes:

[Veganforlife]

Thanks Veganforlife and Smileen!

Unfortunately the HFS doesn't have them, and Sproutpeople (which is a local company) doesn't either, though I did email them and ask if they'd carry them any time soon. So I might go with Sunorganic.com if I can't find a store around here, though theirs aren't organic... Hmm. I wonder why the trouble finding chia seeds?? You see those darn Chia Pets all over the place :p

I would bet your HFS could get them for you...did you ask?

[Graciebeliever]

I use Chia water/gel everyday in my smoothies and just to drink. My dad bought me 3 lbs so that will last me for a while but they are becoming much easier to find. Many great books on it too. Amazon .com has some just query it. There is much potential in Chia that I think will begin to grab the Raw Foodists

[anna-banana]

hey lab rat, finally checking online after being off "lurking" mode for awhile. Don't know if you've gotten your chia seeds yet, but I was in Tucson last December and stopped in at Native Seeds and picked up a one pound bag. A little more expensive than Sunorganic, but then I didn't have shipping to pay. And I don't know if they're organic, but suppose you could email/phone them. I like to support organizations like theirs anywhos. here's the link for the chia seeds~ http://www.nativeseeds.org/v2/prod.php?prodID=FD080
on the package info: "a nutritious seed that contains fiber, helpful in blood sugar regulation. Excellent source of Omega 3's." Also got some sheets with recipes/info with it, but now can't find it (suffering from CRS...Can't Remember...Shtuff). Now I'll be up all night trying to remember where it went....but gotta go rest my brain cells, so I'll postpone that and get back to ya later.

[the_lab_rat]

Hey guys, thanks for all the help! I did end up finding chia seeds at a little independent hfs today! But they're not organic and pretty expensive. So I only got a little tiny bit to try, because I'm just poor and stingy like that :p If I like em I'll definitely order some more from one of the sites you guys linked to because they're like half the price as at the hfs. I'm excited to try them tomorrow! ch-ch-ch-CHIA *sings and dances*

Graciebeliever: I can't believe Amazon carries chia seeds! Crazy!

anna-banana: thanks for the link! I like companies like that too. And LOL at "CRS" :D

[exurb]

rat, tell me what you're going to do with them.

I have some sitting here that I haven't touched and really should do something with them.

[Veganforlife]

I know folks use them in smoothies. They can be used in place of flax seeds...

[Ama]

rat, tell me what you're going to do with them.

I have some sitting here that I haven't touched and really should do something with them.

Put them in your smoothies or a pudding. They are better for you than flax if that is even possible but I find the taste is so mild I could add them to anything! I put about a T in my green smoothie every morning and when a recipe calls for flax I usually add some flax and some chia seeds.

[bodaflower]

If I had a chia pet, I'd name him L-L-L-Larry!


I had one once..it was a cactus....but one of its arms broke off
and that was the end of it

[Veganforlife]

I have a Shrek chia that I got from my daughter for xmas and haven't "grown" him yet. I should!

[Graciebeliever]

Hey guys Don't forget that the BEST way to use the chia is not by adding them into the smoothies or whatever, It is by soaking them first in pure water and making the "gel". Tasteless and WAY better form of using it. Drink it straight or add it to the smoothie. One of the things that Chia does is holds 9x its own weight in water and it will deeply hydrate you if you use it this way. This is how the ancients used them. If you put them into your drinks dry you may end up a touch bound up. Nutrition is the same but far better when you soak them first.. READ READ READ first :)

[Rubyred]

Rainbow grocery store in San Francisco carries chia seeds among many other things. I can't remember how much they were. They have a lot of ingredients raw foodists use. They carry raw almond, pecan, and even raw walnut butters. (Some butters are in the refrigerator section)

Their prices are generally the most reasonable of all the health foods stores. Maybe it's because they are so huge. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.:D
Here's a link:
http://www.rainbowgrocery.org/

[bodaflower]

Hey guys Don't forget that the BEST way to use the chia is not by adding them into the smoothies or whatever, It is by soaking them first in pure water and making the "gel". Tasteless and WAY better form of using it. Drink it straight or add it to the smoothie. One of the things that Chia does is holds 9x its own weight in water and it will deeply hydrate you if you use it this way. This is how the ancients used them. If you put them into your drinks dry you may end up a touch bound up. Nutrition is the same but far better when you soak them first.. READ READ READ first :)

Could you tell me more about soaking them and making gel? Could you do this for wheatgrass as well?

[Veganforlife]

There's a ton of info if you google on chia seeds. Wheatgrass is to be juices using an auger type juicer for the MOST benefits.

[juliebove]

My health food store ordered them for me. I just soak them and eat them as is. But you can also make a Chia Fresca. Add the soaked seeds to some water and lemon juice and sweetener and drink.

[the_lab_rat]

Whoa, this thread like doubled in size overnight! :)

Rubyred: I couldn't find them at Rainbow but they have soooo many bins and jars of food so maybe I missed them. Will check next time I'm there.

exurb: Yep, like Graciebeliever and Veganforlife and Ama said, I'm puttin them in the smoothies! After soaking them first.

bodaflower: I don't know allll that much about chia seeds, but basically if you put them in water they'll produce this gel-stuff. Have you ever soaked flax seeds? It's like that, but even more gel. It kind of ends up with a jelly-like consistency. You can use that in recipes to thicken things or add bulk. But yeah, google them and you'll find tons of info.

Hmm, all this talk kinda makes me want a chia pet... :D

[Graciebeliever]

When making Chia water or "gel", All that you really have to do is drop the Chia seeds in the pure water and shake. Then after about a minute or so repeat or they will cluster and maybe again and a few minutes. Once the Chia has absorbed the water the seeds will be suspended and sit apart from each other either use or refrigerate. This will hold beautifully in the fridge for over a week. I typically make it by the gallon. I put 3 teaspoons (lightly filled) per gallon. It's easy to over do the seeds to water ratio. I was reading of ancient travelers that would carry small pouches of dry Chia and on their walking journeys would add a small amount to a cup of water and they would live on these for days with amazing results. You can use them dry but they will soak up your liquid so you could use this as a thickener of sorts. Although I feel it is tasteless my friend says they have a mildly cucumbery flavor. Either way, they are fine by me!

[Rubyred]

Whoa, this thread like doubled in size overnight! :)

Rubyred: I couldn't find them at Rainbow but they have soooo many bins and jars of food so maybe I missed them. Will check next time I'm there.

Hmm, all this talk kinda makes me want a chia pet... :D


They do have them because that's where I bought mine. Yes, you're right it's hard to find what you're looking for among all the bins and things! They might be in a jar on one of the shelves there. They are good in smoothies because they help to thinken it a bit...if you like that.

[Veganforlife]

Whoa, this thread like doubled in size overnight! :)


Hmm, all this talk kinda makes me want a chia pet... :D


I bet if you spread them all over you, YOU could be a chia pet!

[the_lab_rat]

I bet if you spread them all over you, YOU could be a chia pet!

If they weren't so darn pricey, I'd totally be doing that right now :D