Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) are one of the oldest crops cultivated for centuries by the Aztec tribes in Mexico. Whole, roasted and ground chia seeds were consumed as food, but were also pressed to extract their oil, which formed the base for face and body paints. The chemical composition of chia seeds and their nutritional value provide them with a huge potential for commercialization, and technological advances have created an excellent opportunity to establish an agricultural industry fully capable of offering the world a new and old crop at the same time. In order to reap the benefits of chia seeds, their possible food application as whole chia seeds or as an ingredient needs to be investigated.