Chia lemonade is a delicious and refreshing drink enjoyed in Mexico. Chias are actually tiny seeds from Mexico and the southwest US that were used by the Aztecs and Mayans since 1000 BC. Many of these ancient grains have been recently discovered to be super-foods, packed with antioxidants and other health benefits. Chia seeds are filled with protein, fiber and omega-3! In Mexico, people enjoy chia seeds in aguas frescas (such as lemonade) especially for healthy digestion, as a detox agent, and to stabilize blood sugar.
Make this delicious and nutritious chia lemonade from Mexico with your kids, and encourage them to try this “new” food today! The more we expose our children to new and different tastes and textures, the more likely they are to continue to be adventurous eaters. Try all of my Mexican recipes here!
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Ingredients for Chia Lemonade
a pitcher of cold water
4-5 limes (mine were huge and juicy and gave about 1 c of lime juice)
1/2 c of sugar (or to taste)
3 T of chia seeds (found in health stores and some supermarkets)
The first step is really to choose the best limes. When you go to the supermarket, pick the limes that are smoother (rather than bumpy) and that are easier to squeeze- these seem to be the juiciest limes. Using your lime squeezer or by hand, juice the limes into the cold water. Then add sugar and chia, mixing thoroughly. Kids seem to like their lemonade sweeter than I prefer, so taste and adjust the sugar to taste. Chia lemonade is best enjoyed after letting it sit 5-10 minutes. The chia turns a little bit jelly-like, and you barely notice it as you drink the lemonade. Other alternative citruses that work include mandarin or regular oranges, or lemons (because technically with limes, this is chia limeade, not chia lemonade:).
This is another easy way to get kids to try a new food or texture- start by letting them just sprinkle a little chia into their lemonade, and then slowly add more to your preference.
As my daughter loves to say: “easy, peasy, lemon-squeezey.”
This looks amazing! It looks refreshing too. You can also use chia seeds as a substitute for eggs. Mix 1 T. chia seeds with 3 T. hot water. Stir and use in place of 1 egg.
I think I had heard of that but I’ve never tried it! That would be great for baking egg-free for our allergies over here:).
Wow, I have never heard of that ingredient. So much to learn even from my own culture, lol.
Thanks, Mari
I’ve been wondering about how to use chia seeds!
They don’t taste like much in the lemonade, but they are very healthy and aid digestion. Yeah!