Strawberry or Lime Mint Chia Fresca

By
Robin Grose
Robin Grose
Food writer who lived in Mexico City for 20 years, learning key flavors and techniques to create Mexican food recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
and
Chelsie Kenyon
Chelsie Kenyon
Chelsie Kenyon, author of "Knack Mexican Cooking," is a former freelance writer and recipe developer with more than 10 years' experience in Mexican cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/13/21
Strawberry or Lime Mint Chia Fresca

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Serving: 1 to 4 servings

Chia seeds are not just for chia pets! In fact, Aztecs used this nutritious seed as an important food source, and Mexicans today continue that practice. One of the most common ways to use chia nowadays is to make a refreshing drink. The basic version of Chia Fresca is delicious, but since most things can be made even better with the addition of fresh lime juice, fresh strawberries, and/or fresh mint, I offer the following simple instructions for an exquisite and extra special naturally-flavored Chia Fresca. (The recipe is for Strawberry Chia Fresca; see notes about the Lime-Mint version below the recipe.)

Ingredients

  • 48 ounces (about 6 cups) water

  • 2 cups (1 pint) frozen strawberries

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, piloncillo, or sweetener of your choice

  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds

  • 1 lemon or lime

Steps to Make It

Note: Room temperature fresh berries will release the most juice. If using frozen strawberries, thaw them first.

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Strawberry or Lime Mint Chia Fresca ingredients

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. Heat the water to boiling. Add the sugar or piloncillo and stir until it has dissolved. Allow water to cool down considerably before continuing with recipe.

    simple syrup in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. In a bowl, use a fork to mash the strawberries until they are crushed and juicy.

    mash the strawberries in a bowl

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  4. Pour the berries into the pitcher and use a whisk to incorporate the berries into the water.

    Pour the berries into the pitcher and use a whisk to incorporate the berries into the water

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  5. Add the chia seed, stir, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. During this time, the strawberry juice will begin to flavor the water and the seeds will absorb the water and become gelatinous. You can stir it occasionally if the seeds seem to be floating or falling to the bottom. Fresh seeds will float throughout the liquid, while older ones tend to sink to the bottom. If they sink, that is fine, you will just need to stir them up a bit to keep them evenly dispersed.

    stir the Strawberry Chia Fresca in the pitcher

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  6. Add ice or refrigerate your chia fresca to chill it. Serve your strawberry chia fresca with a lime wedge on the lip of each glass, or with slices of lime (and perhaps a few additional slices of strawberries or a sprig of mint) floating in the pitcher, it you like.

    Strawberry Chia Fresca in a pitcher

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Lime-Mint Chia Fresca

Omit the strawberries. Prepare the sweetened water to taste as explained above, then add a tablespoon of freshly-squeezed Mexican lime juice per each glass of drink you are making. (Tip: Rolling the limes vigorously between the palm of your hand and a hard surface—or microwaving them for 10 seconds or so—before cutting into them will cause more juice to be released from each lime.)

Roll up one or two fresh mint leaves per glass of drink and slice the roll across into 2 millimeter slices. Unravel the sliced mint leaf pieces and drop them into the lime water.

Add the chia seed, stir, let sit for about 10 minutes. During this time, the mint oils will begin to flavor the water and the seeds will absorb the water and become gelatinous.

Refrigerate or add ice and serve (with or without garnishes) as explained above.

To Make One Glass

To make just one glass of chia fresca, use 1 1/2 cups water, 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of sweetener, 4 whole strawberries, 1 to 2 teaspoons of chia seeds, and a slice of lemon or lime for garnish. Follow the instructions as for the pitcher.

Using Artificial Sweetener

If you are using an artificial sweetener such as Equal or Splenda, you can get by with just stirring the powder or drops into the water at room temperature, as these substances tend to dissolve more easily. Start with a little and add until you have achieved the desired degree of sweetness.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
192 Calories
3g Fat
45g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 192
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 25mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 11g 38%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 145mg 727%
Calcium 142mg 11%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 512mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)