National Chia Day Date in the current year: March 23, 2024

Chia seeds are the edible seeds of the plants Salvia hispanica (native to Guatemala and Mexico) and Salvia columbaraie (native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States). They were a staple food for Mesoamerican cultures; there is evidence of chia being cultivated by the Nahuatl (Aztec) cultures in pre-Colombian times that can be found in the Codex Mendoza (circa 1541) and the Matrícula de Tributos (circa 1522–1530). According to Jesuit chroniclers, chia was the third most important crop for Aztecs after maize and beans.

Today, chia is cultivated commercially in Argentina, Bolivia, Eduardo, Guatemala, Mexico, and Paraguay. Chia seeds are widely regarded as a “superfood” due to their nutritional benefits. They are a rich source of thiamine and niacin (vitamins B1 and B3) several dietary minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc) and dietary fiber, and a moderate source of riboflavin and folate (vitamins B2 and B9) and potassium.

Chia seeds are also rich in unsaturated fatty acids, including both essential fatty acids that the human body needs but cannot produce on its own: linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). Chia seeds contain more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, more dietary fiber than linseed, more calcium than milk, more antioxidants than blueberries, and more potassium than bananas.

The hygroscopic properties of chia seeds are another reason why they have become so popular lately. When soaked, chia seeds absorb up to a dozen times their weight in liquid and develop a thick, gel-like coating that gives chia beverages and foods a distinctive texture. The gel from chia seeds is a common egg substitute in allergen-free and vegan baking.

Chia seeds can be added to salads, soups and other dishes as a topping, or used as an ingredient in a wide variety of goods, including granola and energy bars, breakfast cereals, bread and tortillas, puddings, pastries, desserts, smoothies, etc.

National Chia Day was launched in 2016 by Mamma Chia, a California-based company that produces organic chia seeds and chia products (squeezes, pudding mixes and beverages). The main goals of the holiday are to highlight chia’s reputation as one of the most nutrient-rich foods and encourage people around the globe to include chia seeds into their diets.

There are many ways to celebrate National Chia Day. You can learn more about the benefits of chia seeds and share the facts you’ve learned with others, add chia seeds to your oatmeal, granola, porridge or smoothie, cook something with chia, buy a Chia Pet, and share your favorite chia recipes on social media with the hashtags #NationalChiaDay and #ChiaDay to spread the word about the holiday and encourage others to give chia seeds a try.