To celebrate the start of summer, we are using the heat of the sun to cool down and sharing two easy-to-make recipes of one of our most hydrating snacks: Chia Fresca. A Provenance staple and client favorite, our chefs share these chia fresca recipes for those missing out on our Daily Essentials, Feel Good Fix, or Provenance Detox programs and wanting to recreate the beverage at home.
Check out the recipes below for a Summer Berry Chia Fresca and Sun Tea Chia Fresca. Blended with chia seeds, this brew is the perfect de-stressing mid-afternoon treat to get you through the rest of the day plus has super-hydrating benefits.
Food as Medicine
One of the reasons we love food is to be able to connect with our origins and make creations that infuse influences from many cultures around the globe. Our ancestors have truly shown us the way to healthier living, which especially rings true for aguas frescas, chia seeds, and tea. Dating as far back as 3500 B.C. and 4000 B.C., these antioxidant-rich foods have been used in daily routines to support health and wellbeing.
One of our favorite dishes in our repertoire, Chia Frescas are inspired by the traditional aguas frescas, which originated from the Aztecas in Central America. A revitalizing beverage made from muddled fruits, it is exactly as refreshing as it sounds. The ultimate thirst-quenchers, aguas frescas directly translates to “fresh waters,” and was a strong source of hydration for this civilization as they journeyed between their farms and Tenochtitlán (known now today as Mexico City). Our recipes include chia seeds, a main ingredient in ancient Aztec, Mayan, and Tarahumara diets. Small but mighty, this nutritional powerhouse is one of the best sources for fiber and Omega-3s, the fatty acids essential to promoting strong mental health. We love this versatile ingredient so much, we have them available in our Wellness Shop for add-on at checkout, as well as many dishes in our weekly Clean Eats Menu. Our chefs then fuse these elements with a beverage originating from China — tea. What is the most commonly consumed drink around the world today, tea leaves were initially eaten as vegetables before shifting to a steeped beverage. Ingested for its medicinal properties and mineral content since the beginning, tea is an integral part of ancient Chinese culture, serving as the choice drink for emperors and a muse for poetry and art.
Summer Berry Chia Fresca
A berry chia fresca is a great way to use up any berries that you may have hanging around. You could also swap in melon or cucumber — whatever catches your eye at the farmer’s market! Or, if you are interested in a more elevated experience, try the Raspberry Rose Chia Fresca.
TO PREPARE:
Add berries, water and optional liquid flavorings to your blender and blend on medium speed until no chunks of fruit remain. Strain if you wish to remove the seeds or fruit fibers.
Add chia seeds and blend again until the chia seeds are well combined (but still whole).
Enjoy immediately and store any leftovers in the fridge.
Ingredient List
Serves 5½ cup berries
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
1¼ cups water
Pinch sea salt
Optional: Squeeze of lime, 1 tsp. sweetener of choice
INSIDER TIP: Feeling like you can’t get over the unusual texture and consistency of hydrated chia seeds? Start out slow: Mix up your fresca with two teaspoons of seeds to start, and gradually increase the volume with every fresca you make.
Sun Tea Chia Fresca
In this simple rendition, bring out the subtle and complex flavors of your favorite blend by slowly steeping tea in the sunshine.
TO PREPARE
Place four tea sachets (or loose leaf) in a 2-quart glass jar filled with room-temperature water, cover, and place in the sun for three to five hours. You'll know the sun tea is ready when it has developed a rich color in the jar.
Chill sun tea in fridge. You can remove the tea sachets or leave them in, if you want a deeper flavor.
Combine chilled sun tea and chia seeds in your blender and blend on medium speed until the chia seeds are well combined (but still whole).
Top with a sprig of mint for extra refreshment and a drop of wildflower honey if you are craving some sweetness.
Serve and enjoy immediately and store any leftovers in the fridge.
Ingredient List
Serves 52 Tbsp. chia seeds
1½ cups chilled sun tea
Pinch sea salt
Optional: Fresh mint sprigs, wildflower honey
Stay tuned for more recipes created by our in-house nutritional experts and chefs to help you bring health into your home. If you see a dish of ours and are curious to try making it yourself, please let us know and we will add it to the Recipe Collection on the blog.
