[Maison Rustique]

I saw an ad for Salba and was intrigued by the benefits they claim. I'm curious about the taste. The website has only a handful of recipes, which makes me wonder if it's something best taken as a supplement rather than cooking with it.

Has anyone tried this "miracle" grain?

[splinky]

i've only heard of it as being a gluten free grain. you might check on some of the celiac websites. i don't recall ever seeing it at any nyc health food stores

[Maison Rustique]

I just Googled and discovered that it's chia seeds! I had no idea that people ate chia--I thought we just grew it on odd pottery animals and Elvis heads.

I'm still curious though. Have you tried it? How do you use it? What does it taste like?

[splinky]

I just Googled and discovered that it's chia seeds! I had no idea that people ate chia--I thought we just grew it on odd pottery animals and Elvis heads.

I'm still curious though. Have you tried it? How do you use it? What does it taste like?

interesting. looks like salba is a trade name for chia or salvia hispanica. must be much less expensive buying it as chia. apparently dr oz and oprah are chia fans. dr oz on chia

there's a recipe for chia muffins on the page as well.

[peppyre]

I just spent 2 days at a rather large health food expo and have some these to try. I will report back. The sales rep said they were kind of like raspberry seeds in flavour and texture, but that they are also very good ground. I'll let you know how they are.

[Maison Rustique]

Thanks--I can't wait to hear about it. If it really does all that and tastes good, I'd sure give it a shot.

[rancho_gordo]

It's a wonderful meso-American drink.

[splinky]

It's a wonderful meso-American drink.

as always, you are light years ahead of the pack

[Maison Rustique]

Do the seeds soften on soaking? Do you strain them out? I can just see me choking while guzzling a glass of the stuff!

[rancho_gordo]

They do soften and release a gentle slime! But it's oddly pleasant.

[The Scream]

They do soften and release a gentle slime!

hmmm

[rancho_gordo]

Our own Rachel Laudan chimes in as well.

[Rachel Laudan]

Wow, what a coincidence. Steve, thanks so much for linking to my blog. It's made me get active and actually get a new password so I can contribute to Mouthfuls instead of just reading.

But Steve, please, come on, don't say slime, say jelly, it sounds so much better.

I was thinking, if you find bubble tea more appealing than you should, then you could think of agua de chia as the healthful version--much lighter and with tiny fine bubbles instead of great lumps. You don't want it choc a block Anyway, I love it. It's one of my favorite agua frescas and that's a tough competition.

[Rebecca]

Thanks for the information! Most appreciated. I was starting to worry about the claims, "It is the only ancient grain that holds a patent." That sentence really sets your teeth on edge, as well as, " . . is the only ancient grain for which there are acute and long term nutritional studies." Hmmm acute and chronic I understand. And if it is patented, it could well be hybridized, also. Oh, such wonder grains!

[Rachel Laudan]

Hi Rebecca. And just to add to it all, it's not actually a grain at all if by grain you mean cereal (grass) seed. It's a seed all right but not a cereal seed. The puffery associated with these health foods is extraordinary. The Mexicans are missing out on their chance to promote in the US though. It is grown commercially in Mexico but now mainly for the drink, I think. Steve, another opportunity?