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7 Differences between Chia Seeds & Sabja Seeds

chia1

 CHIA Seeds on the left side and SABJA seeds on the right side

Chia seeds are tiny power-packed seeds that have been documented to be around since 3500 bc in the diets of Aztecs and Mayans. They had identified that these super seeds had the ability to increase stamina and energy over long periods of time.

What is the difference between chia seed and sabja seeds (basil seeds)?

Chia seed is a native of Mexico and it does not have an Indian name. However, it has time and again been confused with basil seeds which are also known as Sabja in Hindi. Be it in appearance, origin or health benefits; Chia seeds are different from Sabja in numerous ways. Both chia seeds and sabja seeds originate from the mint family and hence the resemblance.

So how do you differentiate one from the other? Below are a few simple ways that can help you do so:

  1. Native

Chia seeds are native to central and southern Mexico while Sabja seeds are native to India and the Mediterranean region.

      2. Colour

chia 2a chia2b

As can be seen in the above image, the left side is CHIA SEEDS. They are usually a mixture of grey, black, white and sometimes even brown seeds. However, even the black ones are not pitch black in colour. Instead, a dull pattern or a mosaic is visible on them. On the right side is SABJA SEEDS, uniformly jet Black in colour.

         3. Appearance

chia3

Chia seeds are oval in shape and Sabja seeds are elliptical, like tiny grains of rice.

4. On Soaking in Water

chia4

                                        Sabja Seeds in the water on the left, Chia seeds in water on the right

Chia seeds take time to absorb water. It has the unique ability to gel by absorbing over 10 times their weight. Sabja seeds swell up within seconds of being mixed with water. A translucent coat forms around the seed and it appears much larger in size when compared to a soaked chia seed.

         5. Taste of Soaked Seeds

chia5

                                         Sabja seeds in water on the top glass, Chia seeds in water on the bottom glass

Chia seeds do not have any taste of its own and can easily be incorporated in any kind of dish. Sabja seeds have a mild flavour of basil and impart the same to drinks and desserts.

                6.Usage

Chia seeds can be consumed raw or soaked. Sabja seeds can be consumed only after soaking.

               7. Health Benefits

Both, Chia and Sabja seeds have their own set of health benefits. They have been known to aid in weight loss due to their ability to make you feel fuller faster. Here are the most beneficial properties of the seeds.

Chia seeds

  1. Good source of proteins and Omega 3s
  2. The naturally low-carb and high-fibre food helps in digestion
  3. Highly recommended for weight-loss
  4. Promotes energy and endurance
  5. Helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels

Sabja Seeds

  • One of the best body coolant
  • Has a soothing effect on the stomach and hence useful to combat acidity
  • Good source of vitamins and Iron
  • Helps to promote healthy skin and hair
  • Acts as a detoxifying agent and helps to cleanse the blood

 

FACTOR CHIA SEEDS SABJA SEEDS
Native to Central and southern Mexico Native to India and the Mediterranean region
Colour Usually a mixture of grey, black, white and sometimes even brown seeds. However, even the black ones are not pitch black in colour. Instead, a dull pattern or a mosaic is visible on them Uniformly jet Black or pitch black in colour
Appearance Oval in shape Elliptical, like tiny grains of rice
On soaking in water Chia takes time to absorb water. It has the unique ability to gel by absorbing over 10 times their weight. Sabja swell up within seconds of being mixed with water. A translucent coat forms around the seed and it appears much larger in size when compared to a soaked chia seed
Taste of soaked seeds Does not have any taste of its own and can easily be incorporated in any kind of dish.  Has a mild flavour of basil and imparts the same to drinks and desserts
Usage/Health Benefits Can be consumed raw or soaked.

Good source of proteins and Omega 3s

 Can be consumed only after soaking.

Has a soothing effect on the stomach and hence useful to combat acidity.

 

*Chia Seeds from Naturally Yours is now available on GOQii Store. 

 

About Priya Prakash

I Co-founded Naturally Yours with the vision to make healthy and
organic food easily accessible and affordable. Over the years I have
developed strong associations with over 1000 farmers across India and
work with them to encourage organic farming in order to promote
healthy eating. I am a strong proponent of the idea that simple tweaks
in our daily diet can make a huge impact on our overall health.

Comments

  4. Vaishali says

    Hello,
    Good information.
    But you said Chia does not have an Indian name, this is NOT correct.
    Its Indian name is halim in hindi and aliv in marathi.
    It’s been in our culture for centuries.
    I have had it post pregnancy , which is said to be very good.
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Priya says

      I’m sorry but that’s not correct either. Aliv is way different than chia… colour, size and even many of the properties are different. Though they are easily confused. Aliv is pepperweed/ grass cress in English…

      Reply

  6. Gerandha purushotham Nagendra kumar says

    Thank you very much for this blog. I live in Mexico, here we use a lot chia for omega 3. I heared about sabaja seeds for new pains. Especially was searching for difference and found this blog. Really great work from you, very useful .
    Thank you very much 🙏

    Reply

  7. Reagan says

    I wanted to ask, how many time’s their weight do Sabja seeds absorb water? If u try n compare the dry size and soaked sizes after a few hours then the Sabja seeds appear a little larger. Just from observation it seems that they could absorb even more than 10 times their weight in water making them even better than Chia in that aspect.

    Reply

  9. NAGARAJ KUDLI says

    HIGHLY VALUABLE . Specially comparitive table is highly appreciated > In the comparitive table why cooling effect of sabja seeds is missing?

    Reply

  11. Sham says

    Very useful info.Where can i find chia seeds in Bangalore?have checked Bigbbazar n few stores but no luck yet.

    Reply

  12. Nidhi G Kapur says

    Can We Mix Basil Seeds And Chia Seeds in Water Together and Consume ? … & What is the Best Time of the Day to Consume the Same …

    Reply

  15. usman khan says

    Thanks its useful health blog, my question is which seed is helpful in losing weight and how we can use it?
    Secondly, if both seeds are benefits for health can we use it together soak it overnight and then drink it in the morning.

    please reply, your prompt reply will be helpful and appreciated

    Reply

  25. Sumona says

    Very informative, I was really confused between both the seeds even thought it’s benefits are also same.Thank you so much for this detailed information.

    Reply

  31. Salma says

    thank you Priya.. for this information on chia n sabja seeds. have been looking around for this
    stay blessed

    Reply

  32. Nader Mehravari says

    Hi. Do you know the exact botanical name for Sabja Seeds? Which variety of Ocimum Basilicum is it? Thank you.

    Reply

  33. raj says

    very good info, thanks for posting. suggestion if you can publish information on fasting grains with their nutritional values that is like Rajgaro, Sago, Singora, Kutino daro

    Reply

  41. P Madhusudan says

    Thank you for the detailed information with photos Ms Priya .Prakash.
    We seem to have a sabja plant growing in a pot at home and no idea how we got the seeds.

    Reply

  43. Arif says

    Good content you are having on this page loved to be a member of this page keep up the good work guyz, you are doing a great job for awareness. Very nice content Superb Very creative Superior work

    Reply

  49. Healthy Recipes says

    Hey there, author! I stumbled upon your blog post on the differences between chia seeds and sabja seeds, and I must say, it was an enlightening read! As someone who’s always been curious about these tiny wonders, your article provided just the right amount of information I was looking for. You did a great job of highlighting the distinct characteristics of both seeds while keeping it engaging and easy to understand.

    Reply

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