Chocolate of the Day
Mamma Chia
Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1/3 cup (49 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 1/3 cup (dry serving); approx. 1/3 package
Cost: Missing information (Online prices range from $5.99 to $8.99)
Purchased from: Missing information
Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Mexico Week.
Today's Dark Chocolate Chia* Pudding from Mamma Chia (Carlsbad, CA) wasn't made in Mexico, although the company is located in the San Diego area, very near the U.S.-Mexico border.
I'm including this chocolate item in a Mexico themed week because chia seeds originated in Mexico (and Guatemala) and have become relatively popular in the U.S.**
Aroma notes for this organic, easy-to-prepare (just add water/milk) chocolate chia pudding included: cocoa powder, coconut, and very faint grain/seed.
The texture was smooth, and relatively creamy (coconut cream), with tiny bits of crunchy chia seeds surrounded by a gel-like substance.
The directions to make this pudding called for adding water, whisking and waiting -- about 90 minutes. (I waited for 2+ hours before eating.) Although letting this pudding sit overnight in the fridge might yield even smoother results.
Flavor notes included: coconut cream, cocoa powder, chia seeds and very faint oats.
Ingredients: Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Oat, Organic Cocoa Powder, Organic Tapioca Maltodextrin, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Natural Flavor, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Monk Fruit, Sea Salt.
Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut.
*Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are part of the mint family. Nutritional properties of note in 1 serving: 6 grams of plant protein; 5 grams of ALA Omega-3 fatty acids; and 10 grams of prebiotic fiber. They are best eaten/digested after being soaked for at least a few hours (or overnight).
**Both Maya and Aztec peoples ate chia seeds. They were/are also sometimes ground into a flour. They started to become more popular in the U.S. in the early 2000s, and today you'll find them in crackers, beverages and desserts. The word "chia" means strength in the Maya language; and these seeds were used for energy and stamina by warriors and those traveling longer distances.