Chia Pets are American styled terracotta figurines used to sprout chia, where the chia sprouts grow within a couple of weeks to resemble the animal's fur or hair.

When you think about it, a chia pet is a figurine made out of terra cotta clay (the same as most flower pots) and is covered with chia seeds that you sprout into hair or fur.

Joseph Pedott, entrepreneur who made Chia Pets and the Clapper household names, dead at 91. CHICAGO (CBS) -- You may not recognize the Chicago native's name, but chances are you know the work of Joseph Pedott.

Joseph Pedott Joseph Enterprises, Inc is a gadget company which is owned by Joseph Pedott and based in San Francisco, California, United States, North America. Two of their most popular products are The Clapper and the Chia Pet.

(Today, they're made in China.) Though Joseph Enterprises, Inc. trademarked the “Chia Pet” brand name, it's not a patented invention, which is why you may encounter imitations of the leafy figurines sold in stores under a different name.

The seeds produce a mucilaginous gel when soaked in water. Chia is a desert plant requiring little irrigation and grows well in sandy loam soils, but it is sensitive to frost and day length . The plant resists insect pests and disease and is a good candidate for organic production.

However, the species grown on the chia Pet is Salvia hispanica . The Chia was a major food for the aztecs and Indians. They roasted the seeds, mixed them with water and eaten them as gruel or ground into baking. The Aztecs also used Chia for Oil face painting and as ointment and emoilent.

Yes, They're the Same Seeds from Chia Pets By 1982, the first commercially available Chia Pet was sold using the infamous time lapse ad campaigns. Blame Spanish Conquistadores for obscuring the health benefits of chia seeds.

Central America Its origin is believed to be in Central America where the seed was a staple in the ancient Aztec diet. The seeds of a related plant, Salvia columbariae (golden chia), were used primarily by Native Americans in the southwestern United States. Chia seeds have gained attention as an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid.

In 2022, Paraguay was the leading exporter of chia seed, exporting about 112.4 million U.S. dollars' worth of chia seeds to the rest of the world. That year, China was the second major exporter of chia seed with exports valuing about 88 million U.S. dollars.

The actual chia planter is made of terracotta, and they were originally made in Oaxaca, Mexico. In the late 1970s, Joe Pedott, founder of Joseph Enterprises, Inc., purchased the rights to Chia Pets after spying them at a trade show in Chicago.

NEW: Experience our best charts yet.

First marketed in the early '80s in iconic TV commercials, these quirky, grow-it-yourself terra cotta planters remain as popular as ever, with dozens of different styles available. The “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!” jingle is known across generations, and more than 25 million Chia Pets have been sold to date.

However, the species grown on the chia Pet is Salvia hispanica . The Chia was a major food for the aztecs and Indians. They roasted the seeds, mixed them with water and eaten them as gruel or ground into baking. The Aztecs also used Chia for Oil face painting and as ointment and emoilent.

Things You Should Know Spread the seeds evenly onto the pet's grooves and wait 2 days to fill the pet with water. Place your Chia Pet in a sunny spot and check the water level daily as the seeds sprout and grow. If you spot mold, scrub the pet clean and start over.

1-2 WEEKS FULL GROWTH 1-2 WEEKS Watch as your chia seeds sprout and grow into Bob Ross's iconic hair.