Chia Delights!

Chia - a gem of a seed!

Chia provides so much versatility and nutrition in such a tiny package.  Chia works well  ground or whole. Unlike flax seeds, you don’t need to grind the seed to absorb the nutrients. High in omega 3 fatty acids, more calcium than milk, plenty of fiber, potassium, iron, magnesium, and protein – chia is a nutrient dense choice.  Like flax, the seeds  have a gelatinous quality when soaked in water. In fact, chia absorbs 10 times its weight in water… which is good news for staying hydrated in summer heat.

Summertime and iced tea naturally go together. Whether you prefer "sun-tea," "moon-tea," or traditionally steeped tea, a glass of cold tea is a welcome gift on a hot day. My favorite choice for a decaffeinated chilled drink is Celestial Seasoning’s Blueberry Zinger. Great flavor with a little zing!

You can also buy prepared, fruity chia drinks- but it's much cheaper and more fun to make your own!

 



Plus, if you make your own you get to control the ingredients; the second ingredient in Mama Chia drinks is agave. You can add chia seeds to any favorite drink (1 tbsp chia seeds to 8 oz of liquid) and that works well for thicker liquids like smoothies or juice with pulp. But I’ve found over time that using chia gel works particularly well in thin liquids. Chia gel creates that "store bought" consistency.  Check out the first ingredient in Mama Chia drinks - it’s hydrated chia seeds - that’s essentially chia gel!  When you add chia gel to a thin liquid the seeds stay suspended throughout the drink instead of sinking to the bottom.  The important thing to sort out is the ratio of gel to liquid. You can also do simple tricks like making your chia gel with brewed tea instead of water and adding “tea” ice cubes for flavor that won't get diluted. Follow the recipe below and you will be “sipping pretty” all summer long!

Chia Iced Tea

Step 1: Prepare your tea

For fuller flavor use 2-3 bags per 8 oz of water. Allow tea to steep up to an hour - or even over night!

Make double the amount of tea if you plan to use it for your gel and ice cubes. I usually prepare about 6-8 cups of strongly brewed tea at a time.

Step 2: Chia Gel

1/3 cup chia seeds

2 cups tea (or water, if you prefer)

I have found it works best to measure the tea/water in your jar and then add the seeds slowly, whisking as you go. Allow gel to sit for 10 minutes - then shake or whisk again. Let sit another 10 minutes - shake or whisk again. Done!

Step 3: Chia Iced Tea

1 cup tea

1 - 1½ cups chia gel

Stir gently. Add lemon or lime juice to taste.

*Optional: For additional flavor you can add ½ cup of unsweetened pure blueberry juice to your tea - just be sure to add it before you measure out the tea and gel.

To keep it 100% raw- add ½ cup blueberry puree. This is easy to prepare with frozen blueberries. Just let them defrost, blend until smooth with an immersion blender, and add to your tea.

Enjoy!

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