chia

noun \ ˈchē-ə \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of chia

plural chia

1 : an annual herb (Salvia hispanica) of the mint family that is native to Mexico and Guatemala, has spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers, and is grown for its grayish, edible, mucilaginous seeds which are eaten whole or used especially to make a beverage or oil

… to develop, test and grow new cultivars of chia that are able to produce seed in the cooler climate of the Upper South and Midwest, with the potential to increase production of this crop with a traceable domestic supply.
—Susan Smith-Durisek

also : any of several related salvias (especially Salvia columbariae) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

2 or chia seed : the seed of a chia

When mixed with water, the fiber in chia forms a gel that lowers cholesterol and keeps blood sugar stable.
—Jane E. Brody

Chia seeds are tiny and have a very mild taste, making them easy to add to all kinds of foods to boost nutrition.
—Megan Murphy

Recent Examples of chia from the Web

New lines have interesting mixes of fruit and nuts, and some producers are experimenting with millennial-friendly additions like probiotics and chia seeds.

— kim severson, New York Times, "Is America Ready to Love Cottage Cheese Again?," 26 June 2018
Homemade chocolate mousse Post race dessert fruits with a little homemade chocolate mouse and some chia seeds and coconut flakes!

— michelle r. martinelli, For The Win, "Danica Patrick shares her favorite dessert recipes, plus which one Aaron Rodgers loves," 21 June 2018
Superfoods Blueberries, kale, spinach, salmon, quinoa, broccoli, chia seeds and goji berries are just a few nutrient-rich foods that help people stay healthy and feel good.

— jackie pilossoph, chicagotribune.com, "15 material and nonmaterial self-confidence boosters," 20 June 2018
Raw Strawberry Matcha Oatmeal 3/4 cup raw oats 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon flax seeds 1 cup nut milk (your choice on type) 1/3 teaspoon Healing Butterfly Matcha Green Tea Powder Fresh strawberries to taste Agave or maple syrup to taste 1.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Healing Butterfly spices up matcha with tasty flavors," 4 June 2018
Begin your day at Olive et Gourmando, which draws crowds with its tartines, chia bowls, and poached eggs.

— katherine lagrave, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Days in Montréal, Canada," 16 Apr. 2018
But my book purchases slowly took a backseat as years went by and as items like ink cartridges, HDMI cables, and two-pound bags of chia seeds became more important than the newest novel release.

— ars staff, Ars Technica, "How to review your life’s Amazon buying history—and what we learned from our own," 28 May 2018
These included oatmeal, chia-seed pudding, salads, peanut butter, and Clif Bars—all vegan foods.

— jordan bissell, The Atlantic, "Vegan YouTube Stars Are Held to Impossible Standards," 22 May 2018
Che Lychee has lychee jelly, goji berries, chia seeds, and rose syrup.

— devra first, BostonGlobe.com, "In search of brain freeze," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.