You read that right: chia Seeds and sabja seeds are not the same. Ignore the wisdom that tells you otherwise. Here’s a rundown of the differences between these two wonder foods.
Origins:
Both Chia Seeds and sabja seeds originate from the aromatic mint family (Lamiaceae) – that explains their resemblance.
They part ways in the specifics:
- chia seeds: Salvia hispanica, native to central and souther Mexico and Guatemala [link]
- sabja seeds: Ocimum basilicum, possibly native to India [link]. The plant is commonly called sweet basil or Genovese basil.
Color:
A quick chromatic scrutiny is all it takes to tell the seeds apart.
- chia seeds: Shades of dark brown, color variations
- sabja seeds: Evenly black
Liquid Absorption:
I ran this experiment with a teaspoon each of chia seeds and sabja seeds, soaked separately in three tablespoons of water.
- chia seeds: Take their time to absorb water. You see a noticeable swelling only after a while.
- sabja seeds: Begn to swell at the touch of water. A translucent white film coats each black seed as they swell. Also, sabja seeds grow to a larger volume than chia seeds.
Texture:
They may both look like sesame or nigella seeds when dry, but when soaked, they come into their their own distinctive selves.
- chia seeds: Soft to bite after they have soaked in liquid
- sabja seeds: More gluey than chia seeds when soaked in liquid
Taste:
The proof is in the pudding!
- chia seeds: Bland/neutral, take on the flavor of whatever they are eaten with. A popular way to eat chia is in pudding form with almond milk or coconut milk, along with with fruit toppings.
- sabja seeds: Fragrant. When added to desserts or lemonade, they impart their own basilly touch.
Cost:
Specific to India: the last I checked in stores, this is how the prices compared:
| Seed Type | Cost | Cost Per Gram |
| Chia Seeds | Rs.285 for a 150 gram pack | Rs. 1.90 |
| Sabja Seeds | Rs.40 for a 100 gram pack | Rs.0.40 |
Verdict: At the time of writing, chia seeds are over four times more expensive than sabja seeds.
Recipes:
A few interesting recipes from around the web. Enjoy!
- chia seeds: clementine chia pudding, chia oatmeal breakfast cookies, coconut walnut banana bread with chia
- sabja seeds: sabja lemonade, rose milk with sabja, mango falooda
The post Chia Seeds vs Sabja Seeds: How They Differ appeared first on The Steaming Pot.
