About Salba™

Salba™ is a wholegrain developed from Salvia hispanica L, a member of the mint family and is grown mainly in Peru. The grain is a rich source of fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, iron and antioxidants.

The Aztecs of South America valued Salba™ more highly than gold, and believed it gave them mystical, almost supernatural energy and power. The Aztecs called this ancient grain “running food” because messengers were able to run from village to village after consuming just a handful of the nutrient packed seeds daily.

There is evidence that Salvia hispanica L was first used as a food as early as 3500 BC and served as a cash crop in Mexico between 1500 and 900 BC. The seeds were eaten alone and mixed with other crops, drunk as a beverage, ground into flour, included in medicines and ground for oil. Aztec rulers received seeds as an annual tribute from conquered nations, and the grain was offered to the gods during religious ceremonies.

When the Spaniard Hernando Cortez and his Conquistadors arrived in Mexico in 1519 he quickly realised that the grain was at the very core of the Aztec diet and culture. It was an integral part of the rich and mysterious ceremonies that were vital to their spiritual culture, and became a symbol of life itself.

Cortez became convinced that if he could destroy the precious crops, he would win the Aztec empire. So the Conquistadors set acre upon acre on fire and a brutal battle began that would eventually bring the Aztecs to their knees, leaving the magnificent Kingdom of Gold in ruins.