Sipping on chia seed tea is such a fun and easy way to include more wholesome chia seeds in your diet. It makes for a unique textured drink that's so refreshing. It might even remind you of Japanese bubble tea!
You might have been including chia seeds in recipes and breakfasts bowls for a while now, but did you know that you can also drink chia seeds?
A while back when I was starting to be more health oriented, I remember adding them simply to my water to make chia water. At this point, it was strictly for health benefit, but now I'm addicted to the texture of soaked chia in all forms.
When chia seeds are immersed in liquid, they will absorb some of the fluid to swell and form a gel. That chia gel is very pleasant to eat just like that and can be used in all sorts of baked goods and to make sweet puddings.
But if you make that gel thin enough, it will actually create a texture that's close to a Japanese style bubble tea. You can simply drink it and enjoy a textured tea that's actually good for you with an eye-catching look.
Why make chia seed tea
- It is so easy to make!
- Such a fun way to enjoy tea
- Effortless way to add valuable nutrients to your diet. Chia seeds are packed with protein, fiber, Omega-3 and so much more!
- Very kid-friendly
- So versatile and easy to customize
- Chia seed tea is actually quite filling! Sipping on it can help you feel satiated during the day
Ingredients to make chia seed tea
This is more of a kitchen trick than a recipe, it is so simple!
- Favorite tea. I use bags of tea, but loose tea leaves work well too.
- Water.
- Chia seeds. They are now very easy to find in most grocery stores, but you can also buy them online. I use these chia seeds from the brand 365.
- Sweetener and fresh fruits. Optional.
How to make it
If you know how to prepare tea, than you already know how to make chia seed tea! There is just no secret about this recipe, make tea and add chia seeds to it.
Then, you will have to give your drink some time to rest. During that time, the tiny seeds will absorb some of the water and create a loose gel (thickness of the gel will depend on the ratio chia-water and resting time).
Here is how I make it:
- Boil water and steep your tea bags (or tea leaves), just the same way you make regular tea. Once the tea is done, then remove the bags (or leaves) and let the tea cool down for a bit. Chia seed tea can be made with my lemongrass and ginger tea too!
- Add chia seeds to the tea and give it a good stir right away to keep the seeds moving.
- Transfer your drink to the fridge and let sit for a at least 2 hours before enjoying.
The chia seeds will initially float on top of the tea, but will eventually sink and distribute better as they absorb on the tea. Also, if your tea is still very hot when adding the seeds, then they might clump. To avoid this, I recommend to let your tea cool down slightly before adding the seeds (or add a few ice cubes) and make sure you stir very well.
Watch how to make it
What type of tea to use
There are lots of variation on the type of tea you can use. I used hibiscus raspberry tea, but green tea, black tea, rooibos or any kinds, really, will work very well too. I suggest you try with your favorite tea and see how you like it.
I love using a fruity caffeine-free tea so I can enjoy it any time of the day, share with my kids and it makes for a perfect cold summer refreshing drink.
Customize your chia seed tea
Aside from the wide variety of teas you can use, you can also play around with the ratio liquid vs chia seeds. I recommend using about 1 tbsp of seeds per 1 cup of tea. This will give you a drink that's pretty dense. If you are new to chia seed tea, then you can start with less seeds and work your way up.
I love making iced chia seed tea, but you can also enjoy your chia tea warm. Simply add the seeds to your tea, stir very well and let it sit for 5 minutes or so before enjoying. The seeds won't have as much time compared to iced tea to turn into a gel, but the texture will still be very pleasant. Again, if your tea is really hot when adding the seeds, it might create clumping, so be sure to stir really well as you are adding the seeds.
A fun way to enjoy this drink is also to add fresh or frozen fruits to it. After the tea has cooled down, try adding berries, watermelon, kiwi, oranges, lemon, etc. Leave them whole or crush them slightly to get some of their juices out. It adds delicious flavors and a beautiful colorful look.
Storage
This drink stores very well, which is great if you are into meal-prep. You can make a batch or two, keep it in the fridge and sip throughout the week (good for 4-5 days).
If you like to add fruits to your drink, then consider adding them just before enjoying as the fruits can change in texture after they bathe in liquid for a while (or within 24 hours of enjoying your tea).
Other chia seed recipes you might like
- Coconut pineapple chia seed parfait
- Kiwi Chia Pudding
- Cherry marmalade
- Sweet potato granola
- Black bean brownies
- Lemon chia seed water
- Warm chia pudding
- Blue chia pudding
I hope you enjoy this chia seed tea as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Chia seed tea
Ingredients
- 3 cups hot water
- 2 favorite tea bags - I used caffeine-free hibiscus tea
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- sweetener (maple syrup, agave nectar) - to taste, optional
Instructions
- Steep the tea bags in hot water for 3-5 minutes (or as directed).
- Remove the tea bags and discard them. Let your tea cool down (this will help prevent clumping of the seeds).
- Add the chia seeds and sweetener (if using), stir right away and transfer to the fridge. Let sit for at least 2 hours before enjoying. Stir well before serving.
- Store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Video
Notes
- You can use the tea of your choice, I love using caffeine-free fruity tea, but green tea, black tea or rooibos work well too.
- You can add fresh fruits (berries, watermelon, pineapple, citrus, etc) to your iced chia tea. Fruits are best added just within 24 hours before enjoying as they can change in texture when soaking for a while.
- I like to add a hint of maple syrup to my iced chia tea, but this is optional.
- The ratio of tea vs chia seeds can be adjusted to your liking. I like using 1 tbsp of seeds per 1 cup of tea. If you are new to chia tea, you could start with a little less.
- You can also completely cool down your tea in the fridge (for an hour or so) before adding the seeds, then store for 2 more hours before enjoying. This will make sure you don't end up with clumps.
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
NUTRITION
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This tasted super yummy. I like how the chia seeds float in it. I used green tea and it worked well. Thank you for the recipe. I second the idea of having a cookbook out some time. 🙂
Hi Hiroshi, glad you liked the recipe, thanks for your kind comment 😊
Wow! Do you have a cookbook ?
Not yet! 😉 Hopefully one day!