Chia Grass Types

The Aztecs in Mexico initially utilized chia grass, which is part of the mint family, as an agricultural crop during the 14th and 15th centuries. Chia grass was and is harvested for its edible and nutritious seeds. The seeds are high in fiber, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. There are two types of chia grasses.

White Chia

White chia grass, which is also called salba, forms white flowers and pale colored seeds. The grass grows best in warm, sunny climates such as plant hardiness zones 8 to 10. White chia seeds are planted in well-drained soil, which is kept moist but not saturated. The seeds are often first germinated for about two weeks before planting. Flowers can form from July through August.

Black chia grass forms purple flowers and dark brown seeds. Black chia also requires a warm climate and well-drained soil. They can also be germinated. Methods of germinating chia seeds include a soil tray, a non-soil growing medium or a wet paper towel. Black chia blooms also form from July to August.

The seeds from white and black chia grass are very similar in terms of nutrition. On average, black seeds are slightly higher in fiber and white seeds are slightly higher in protein. The climate where they are grown makes the most difference in nutritional value. A study conducted by the Office of Arid Lands Studies at the University of Arizona, Tucson showed that seeds grown in semi-arid and sub-humid ecosystems had increased protein and seeds grown in semi-arid or dry ecosystems had increased fatty acids.

Many suppliers of chia seeds sell blends of both black and white seeds. It is possible to plant black and white seeds together to create both colors of flowers and seeds. Eating blends also ensures that you are taking advantage of the nutritional values of both types.