chia

American  

[chee-uh] / ˈtʃi ə /

noun

chias plural

1. a plant, Salvia columbariae, of the mint family, native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, having mostly basal, oblong leaves and small blue flowers: the seeds are used as food and as the source of a beverage.

2. any of several similar related plants.

3. a beverage brewed from the seeds of any of these plants.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chias
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chia

1875–80; < Mexican Spanish chía < Nahuatl chiah, chian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chia chias

Search for fibermaxxing on social media and you’ll see any number of recipes for chia pudding and bean salad, as well as influencers talking up the benefits of a high-fiber diet.

From MarketWatch ● May 10, 2026

I’ve been on the hunt for similar chia seed-centric recipes that go beyond the basics, experimenting with flavors, preparations and presentations.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026

Simple ways to get that in include eating a little over a cup of raspberries, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, or two-thirds cup of black beans.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 25, 2026

You can even add a tablespoon or two of chia seeds to your favorite latte recipes and let them sit for 30 minutes before adding ice.

From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2026

Little ragged boys, acting as waiters, were busily engaged in handing round pulque and chia in cracked tumblers.

From Life in Mexico by Calderón de la Barca, Madame (Frances Erskine Inglis)

In Granada those tunics, which are called chias, are of black velvet, embroidered with gold or silver, and having a train of six or eight yards in length. 

From Roman Catholicism in Spain by Anonymous

There it lay among the chias, and she picked it up and carried it to her room.

From The Penance of Magdalena & Other Tales of the California Missions by Chase, J. Smeaton