Hey guys! If you are into Chia seeds then you are probably familiar with the Mamma Chia drinks and Chia Squezes...
And for those of you who are not familiar with the Mamma Chia products or Chia seeds period, let's talk about why they are so great. Chia seeds are undoubtedly one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, which is why it is known as a 'superfood'. ('Chia' is the ancient Mayan word for 'strength'). They have more omega fatty acids than salmon and more calcium than milk, are a whole grain food with fiber and protein, all while being non-GMO and naturally gluten free. Chia seeds are loaded with antioxidants and almost all of the carbs in them are fiber. Due to the fact that Chia seeds are high in omega fatty acids, fiber and protein, they are believed to improve metabolic health as well (possibly lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol, which could possibly lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes). Chia seeds are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and protein - all super important for bone health. I could go on and on here, but I think you get the point. This is such a great/healthy food and adding them to some of your drinks is just one way of incorporating them into your diet. (They don't have much flavor so you can add them to salads, rice, oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, vegetables, anything really). But today I am going to show you how I make some of my drinks with these little powerhouse seeds.
Why not just buy Mamma Chia drinks and avoid the hassle of having to make them myself? There are a couple of reasons why. First, I do not have any stores near where I live that carries the Mamma Chia products (the closest one is 2 hours away). Secondly, these drinks can be quite expensive! On the average these can cost you $4-$5 a piece. That's just crazy! So instead of having to spend all day traveling to pick these $$$ up, I can make them here at home whenever I want. Simple.
As I mentioned before, Chia seeds do not have much flavor so you're not going to taste them much in your drinks. What is obvious, however, is their texture. When replicating the Mamma Chia drinks, you soak your seeds in water and end up with a gelatinous mixture where the seeds still retain some amount of crunchiness. That might sound gross, but I really enjoy it. I can't really think of anything to compare the texture to, but I would say it's somewhat close to tapioca. It has the same jelly-like consistency as tapioca but again, the seeds do crunch a little. If you aren't really a fan of stuff like that, this drink might not be for you. But, if you think you might like it then read ahead to see how quick and easy (and affordable) these drinks actually are to make.
First thing you're gonna need are Chia seeds. We usually get a couple of pounds of them at a time when we go to Whole Foods (2 hours away so we stock up) from one of their big bins. These are now available at most grocery stores as well, and if nothing else, AMAZON. Moving on, when I make my drinks I make enough for 2 fairly good sized drinks. As far as exact measurements, don't even worry about that. If you make a little more than you would drink in a day, the seeds will keep overnight in the fridge. Anyways, I put about 3 tablespoons of Chia seeds in 1 cup of warm water.
(I usually use some sort of a BPA free plastic mug, something that can take warm and cold temperatures and won't break)
After I add my 3 TBSP of seeds and my 1 cup warm water, I let this sit till about room temperature. Then I put this in the fridge for about 8 hours (I usually do this at night).
Next is the fun part, add to your seeds WHATEVER drink you like. I use various juices that I enjoy (as seen above) and I also enjoy using my favorite iced teas.
When I use my favorite teas I always sweeten them as usual, while they are still warm and steeping.
And then all you do is add your tea (cold) or juice to the mixture. Use a 50/50 ratio for your drink - half the seed mixture, half your favorite drink.
And voila! Your DIY Mamma Chia drink is complete!
