White Chia vs. Black Chia Seed
Chia seeds have been recognized as a superb food because they are packed with beneficial things like vitamins, minerals and amino acids. While a lot of men and women know of the health benefits of chia seeds, there’s some confusion about white and black seeds. Simply put, there isn’t any difference, besides color, between white and black chia seeds.
The Chia Plant
Chia seeds are picked from Salvia hispanica plantsthat are from the mint family (Lamiaceae). This is an annual herb that’s a portion of the Salvia genus, including antioxidant plants. Chia plants normally grow to about 3 feet tall and comprise opposite, serrated leaves that are 1 1/2 to 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches across. Clusters of blue to purple to white flowers look on spikes in late summer.
The Seeds
Chia seeds are used as food supply for thousands of years. They were once considered a perfect food supply and were cultivated by the Aztecs to be consumed as a grain, ground to flour and pressed to create petroleum. Chis seeds are small and oval, may be found in dark, creamy white or gray, and usually have darker markings or specks. These may be available separately or as a combination of all four types. When growing chia plants from seeds, the method is the same regardless of what color you are planting.
Chia Culture
Chia plants prefer a light purple to medium loamy soil that’s well drained. This plant may grow in acid, neutral and alkaline soils, but doesn’t do well in shaded locations, so select a warm, sunny place for growing your seeds. Chia plants thrive in warmer temperatures, so if you are growing this plant outdoors, it does best in the warmer climates of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 12.
Planting the Seeds
In temperate regions, planting can be done outdoors in the fall. Inside, or in areas that experience cold weather in the autumn and winter, seeds may be planted indoors in flats or containers in the spring. Sprinkle the seeds over the surface of a light, porous soil, like garden loam and compost mixed in equal parts. Rake the seeds gently into the ground and cover them with a thin layer of soil that’s no thicker than twice the diameter of the seed. Lightly press the surface to ensure the seed contacts the surrounding ground. After sowing, water the soil lightly. Move your seeds to a place where they get lots of light, and keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds germinate. When the seedlings emerge, you can cut back watering to only giving moisture once the soil is dry to the touch.