chia

\ 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 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, "I'll Never Run Out of Nut Milk Thanks to This Creamy Concentrate," 22 May 2020 My recipe for chocolate strawberry chia seed pudding parfait boasts a whopping 16½ grams of fiber. — Lisa Drayer, CNN, "How to use Adele's birthday picture as inspiration instead of frustration," 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, "Escape To The Caribbean With These Soulful Recipes," 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, "The Rise of ‘Zero-Waste’ Restaurants," 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, "The Biggest Wellness Travel Trends: Sound Baths, Tickling Helmets, and More," 14 Feb. 2020 Add fresh or unsweetened frozen berries to smoothies, yogurt, chia puddings and cold cereal. — Samantha Cassetty, NBC News, "The MIND diet: 11 foods to eat to keep your brain healthy," 22 Nov. 2019 The book includes a 14-day meal plan and dozens of recipes, like chia pudding, smoothies, sweet potato hummus, homemade falafel, spaghetti Bolognese (made with Beyond Meat), and even desserts, like vegan carrot cake and chocolate mousse. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "What Is Oprah's Latest Diet? A Nutritionist Explains the OMD Plan," 8 Nov. 2019 Choose from oat and chia bowls, smoothies, soups, bites, harvest bowls and flatbreads. — Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, "8 Restaurant-Worthy Meal Kits and Meal Delivery Services Southerners Will Love," 25 Apr. 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.