chia

noun

\ ˈchē-ə

plural chia

Definition of 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

Examples of chia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some of the more widely available chia seed brands include The Chia Co., Nutiva, and Bob's Red Mill. — Christina Chaey, Bon Appétit, 24 Aug. 2020 The chain had grown steadily for thirty-four years, smothering the United Kingdom’s commercial districts, expanding into airport departure lounges, taking chia seeds to Aberdeen and cheese-and-pickle baguettes to Dubai. — Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2020 Dry chia seeds can also be added whole or ground to smoothies and juices, mixed into yogurt and oatmeal, or sprinkled on top of a salad. — Christina Chaey, Bon Appétit, 24 Aug. 2020 Still, several months of cooking virtually all of my meals at home has illuminated that making all my favorite breakfasts, from chia pudding to smoothies, is infinitely easier with a jar of nut milk in the fridge. — Aliza Abarbanel, Bon Appétit, 22 May 2020 My recipe for chocolate strawberry chia seed pudding parfait boasts a whopping 16½ grams of fiber. — Lisa Drayer, CNN, 6 May 2020 Prepare serving cups by putting a layer of pineapple marmalade on the bottom, then a layer of chia pudding on top. — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 Apr. 2020 Dine on of-the-moment vegetarian dishes like chia pudding and grain bowls in the airy wood-and-exposed brick space—no meat means everything can be composted. — Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Mar. 2020 As at Canyon Ranch's outposts in Arizona and Massachusetts, good habits are subtly encouraged: No window blinds means rising with the sun, and dishes like coconut-milk chia pudding are served at communal tables, maximizing human connection. — Betsy Blumenthal, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2020

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.