# What is a chia??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2003, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-chia/221561 "2003-12-29T10:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-chia/221561/1 "2003-12-29T10:47:18Z")
I got a chia sheep for Christmas. On Friday I was smearing the nasty seed paste onto the animal’s sides when a thought occurred to me. What the hell is a chia? From where in the world do they come? Are they good for anything other than dressing up cheesy terra-cotta figurines? I bring these questions, hopefully to the Teeming Millions. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-chia/221561/2 "2003-12-29T11:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > [Biology of the Family Chiaceae (Chia Pets) > by Eric J. Weissberger > Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences > Rutgers University > New Brunswick, New Jersey](http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume4/v4i4/chias.htm) > > Members of the family Chiaceae, popularly known as Chia pets (Figures 1 and 2), are common organisms, frequently found in the same habitat as humans. Although widespread, very little is known about the biology of Chias. The field of Chia research is wide open, and provides many opportunities for fascinating research. > > \ > > Second, the Chia life cycle (Figure 3) is complex. The Chia’s mating call is usually heard in early November, a melodic ch-ch-ch-chia (whence this group gets its name). This call is usually broadcast over television airwaves. How Chias have adapted so quickly to use human produced electromagnetic radiation remains a mystery. After being born, juvenile Chias begin life in a purely animal phase, inside a plain cardboard cocoon. These cocoons are usually found in large aggregations in stores such as K-Mart and Target around late November. The cardboard cocoon is then transported via a human host to a location underneath a coniferous tree. The cocoon at this point usually becomes decorated with bright papers and ribbons, not unlike a decorator crab’s shell. In an amazing display of synchrony, all Chias hatch on the morning of December 25, and migrate to windowsills, where the plant phase begins to grow. How the Chias return to K-Mart to complete the life cycle is open to debate. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-chia/221561/3 "2003-12-29T11:05:52Z")
rofl =) ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-chia/221561/4 "2003-12-29T11:33:27Z")
Been doing some online reading, looks like chia is a wonder food. It’s the seed of an herb that contains omega-3 oils, lots of B vitamins and other goodies. Helps hydration and electrolyte balance by forming a gel once in the body. The Incas used them to increase their stamina for long distance runs. Makes you question why this isn’t being promoted as a food supplememt, rather than just cutesy gifts you only see advertised in December. Bulk seed purchases are available. If I knew how to provide a link I’d do so[another thing on my New Year’s resolution list]