Chia
Chia is an ancient crop known for its nutritious seeds.
The chia plant is an ancient crop plant. It was cultivated by the Aztecs in Central America long before Europeans discovered that part of the world. Some historians believe that it was once as important a crop as maize.
The chia plant is grown for its seeds, which have a high content of Omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamin B, calcium, and a number of other vitamins and minerals. Chia seeds are also water absorbent. When soaked, they can absorb up to 12 times their own weight in water. When the seeds get wet, the outer part swell up to a jelly-like layer, which aids digestion when eaten.
Due to the many good properties of chia seeds, you can find them on the shelves of many health food stores. Chia seeds can be used, for example, as a breakfast cereal supplement, in smoothies and in bread. They are easy to germinate, so if you want your own chia plant in the windowsill, all you have to do is scatter a few seeds in a soil-filled pot.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: The Mountain Forest House
- Danish name: Chia
- Latin name: Salvia hispanica
- Family: Mint family / Lamiaceae
- Natural habitat: Mexico and Guatemala