Chia seeds: Microstructure, mucilage extraction and hydration

► Microstructural features of the chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) to access where the mucilage was located. ► Microstructure of chia seed permit know how the mucilage was released during hydration. ► Ratio seed:water, temperature and pH on mucilage extraction. ► Temperature, ionic strength and pH effects on mucilage hydration. ► Chia seed mucilage had the capacity to retain 27 times its weight in water.