BLACK vs WHITE CHIA*

Protein and oil content, as well as fatty acid profile of chia grown at various locations and in different countries


LOCATION COLOR PROTEIN LIPIDS PALMITIC STEARIC OLEIC LINOLEIC LINOLENIC
%
%
% of lipids
% of lipids
% of lipids
% of lipids
% of lipids
1
WHITE
14.2
32.8
6.7
3.3
6.8
17.4
64.5
BLACK
15.6
31.2
6.7
3.7
7.0
17.3
63.3
2
WHITE
12.4
29.3
6.7
3.3
6.8
17.9
63.7
BLACK
12.3
30.2
6.3
3.3
6.7
18.0
63.5
3
WHITE
21.0
32.1
6.0
5.0
6.4
15.7
66.2
BLACK
20.2
33.2
6.3
3.3
5.8
15.6
67.3
4
WHITE
18.4
35.7
64.4
BLACK
19.6
35.2
64.9
                 
average
WHITE
16.5
32.6
64.7
BLACK
16.9
32.4
64.8

The table shows that greater differences in compostion are produced by location (due to climatic differences) than there are between white and black chia seed. Thus color is the only significant difference.
As an added note, if one plants black chia seed black chia seed will be produced, on the other hand if you plant white chia seed white chia seed will be produced.

* Ayerza and Coates, 2006. Unpublished. Analyses completed by an ISO 9000 certified laboratory.