Omega-3 Rich Savi Seeds - How Do They Compare To Chia, Hemp and Flaxseeds?

Savi Seeds - Are they the next power seed?

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What are Savi Seeds?
Known as the "Inca Peanut", these seeds have been grown and consumed in Peru for centuries. They come from the star shaped pods of "sacha inchi" plants. They are incredibly rich in ALA omega 3 fatty acid and with all the buzz about this critical nutrient, it's not a surprise to see savi seeds hit our shore. I've noticed these in Whole Foods for a while now but today I decided to buy some and report back to you.


Are Savi the Next Power Seeds?
I'm a sucker for omega 3 so I had to see how they would measure up to my favorite Power Seeds: Chia, Hemp and Flaxseeds. 


Where they Stand Tall
* As advertised, Savi seeds contain the most ALA omega 3 fatty acids of all the seeds providing 7 grams per ounce. Whole flaxseeds comes in a close second with 6.4 grams.
* I would give them the highest marks for "ease of eating". They are similar to roasted nuts so you can easily sit and munch on them without soaking, grinding, or sprinkling them on another food. 

Savi Seeds nutritional profile per ounce
190 calories
7 grams ALA omega 3
4.7 grams omega 6
8 grams protein
5 grams fiber

Protein
Savi provides 8 grams of high quality, "complete" protein per ounce, more than chia and flax but hemp seeds still win first place in this department with over 10 grams per ounce.


Fiber
5 grams of dietary fiber is certainly respectable but ounce per ounce, chia provides more than twice that amount with 10.6 grams. However, you are more likely to consume an ounce of savi than an ounce of chia seeds.


Where they Fall Short
There are several places where I think savi seeds fall short:
* They are roasted, not raw. Chia, flax and hemp seeds are all available raw which is important since Omega 3 is very sensitive to heat.
* They are very expensive! At retail, they cost $2.00 per ounce or 10 times the price of flaxseeds and 2 to 2 1/2 times the price of chia and hemp seeds. So as easy as they are to munch as a snack, at $2.00 per ounce, you probably won't be munching too many. 


Flavors
They come in 3 flavors:
* Oh Natural - roasted with a touch of sea salt. 
* Karmalized - lightly glazed in sugar cane.
* Cocoa Kissed - covered with dark chocolate.


How do they Taste?
When I opened the Oh Natural, I thought they smelled funky and rancid. They tasted a bit like peanuts but not nearly as good. I actually thought I got a bad package.
The Karmalized tasted a bit like Cracker Jacks and a little better than the Oh Naturals but unfortunately contain 8 grams of sugar per ounce of seeds. The Coco Kissed ones masked the funky taste the most and were the most enjoyable. They are made with 70% cacao and cane sugar. They contain less sugar than the Karmalized but still 5 grams per ounce.


My Bottom Line
Everyone has different tastes so you should give them a try if you feel inclined to do so. I probably won't buy them because I don't care for them.
If you want 7 grams of omega 3, (the amount you would get from 1 ounce of Oh Natural savi seeds) drizzle 1 tablespoon of cold pressed flaxseed oil on your oatmeal. It's a lot cheaper!