Lisey introduced me to chia drinks some years ago; she loves their fruity flavor and seedy texture, so she buys them occasionally.

And sometimes we buy them for her if she needs a little pick-me-up on a rough day.

I’ve always been kind of surprised by the high-ish price ($2.79-$3.50 for a 10-ounce bottle), and it occurred to me that I could probably make these at home for a lot less.

I did a little googling, and basically followed this method, sans the maple syrup.

I wrote up a super-detailed price comparison post, which I’ll publish tomorrow, but I wanted the recipe post to be easy to find, so that’s what you’ll get today!

Why would you want to drink chia?

According to Healthline, chia seeds are a good source of protein, fiber, and a number of minerals. 

They do also have omega-3 fatty acids, but unfortunately, they’re not a type we humans can make much use of (see this article for more information).

I was very disheartened to hear this because I was hoping I could drink chia juice instead of eating salmon.

Sigh.

Life is full of disappointments.

Including the fact that nutritional advice invariably ends up at, “Eat salmon.”

Still, there are plenty of good things about chia seeds, so it’s not like it’s pointless to eat them. 

Also: if you like the interesting texture of a chia seed juice, that’s reason enough to drink one!

How to make a chia drink

I use chia seeds and antioxidant juice from Aldi. OF COURSE.

This process is ridiculously easy.

First, mix a cup of water with three tablespoons of chia seeds.

Let the mixture sit for about a minute, stir again, and let it sit for another 5-10 minutes.

By that time, the seeds + water will have formed into a gelatinous mixture you could scoop with a spoon.

It’s kind of crazy to see!

Next, mix in a cup of whatever juice you’d like to use.

And then you’re done!

You can try your drink right away, or you can let it sit in the fridge overnight.

Printable recipe is below, and tomorrow I’ll publish the detailed price analysis.

3-Ingredient Chia Drink

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This is a super easy copycat of bottled Mamma Chia drinks!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 cup juice

Instructions

1. Whisk chia seeds into water. Let stand one minute; whisk again.

2. Let stand an additional 5-10 minutes, or until mixture has turned into a gel.

3. Whisk in juice; serve immediately or refrigerate overnight.

Notes

You can use any juice you like; Aldi's antioxidant juice tastes very similar to Mamma Chia drinks, but you could also use grape juice, apple juice, or cranberry blends. Experiment and see what you like!

Nutrition Information

Yield 2 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 151Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 0mgSodium 80mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 6gSugar 14gProtein 3g