Q & A: What is the Difference Between Chia Seeds and Sabja?

Love an almond milk Falooda? Well we do! After all, summers are here and who wouldn’t want to cool down with a glass of sugary  goodness.  One interesting ingredient in falooda are the Sabja seeds, those black and fuzzy seeds are always a little slurpy surprise. Yes, we said Sabja, not Chia seeds - so just what is the difference? Let us explain.

Sabja Seeds 

These little wonders come from the sweet basil plant and are native to India - they are tiny and black in colour. The seeds play an important role during summer as they reduce body heat. Additionally, they help in digestion and lowering the risk of heart attacks - as it clears the arteries.

Moreover, Sabja seeds also help in maintaining weight. When soaked in water, the seeds form a thick gelatinous mass. It is said that when consumed before meals, it controls the urge to overeat. Being rich in iron,  it helps in improving blood quality and immunity thus, stabilising blood sugar levels.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a very popular super food, the seeds come from a relative of the mint plant. Sprinkled on Yoghurt, salads, and puddings, Chia seeds are consumed after soaking in water and come in white, grey, brown, or black colour. When Chia seeds are absorbed in water, they double in volume and form a thick liquid, this keeps you satiated and can even reduce appetite.

Mostly grown in southern Mexico and Guatemala, these seeds help in controlling the triglyceride levels which lowers the risk of heart attacks. They also help in the intake of calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Fun Fact: chia seeds are said to have more calcium than milk! 

Are they similar?

Sabja and Chia, although they come from different plants do share similarities such as the ability to stabilising blood sugar levels and maintaining weight. However, the nutrition value of both are vastly different - Chia seeds contain antioxidants, fibre, calcium and protein which help in improving cardiovascular health. On the other hand, Sabja seeds are rich in iron content which improves the quality of blood. Chia seeds are definitely the winner when it comes to being nutrient rich.

So there you have it, now you know why Chia seeds are so much more expensive than Sabja!

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