Chia Pet
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Chia Pets are a brand of collectible animal figurines originated by the San Francisco, California-based company Joseph Enterprises Inc. Chia Pets are traditional Mexican animal-shaped clay figures covered with chia, where the chia sprouts resemble the animal's fur. Chia Pets achieved widespread popularity in the 1980s following the 1982 release of a ram, the first Chia Pet. Subsequent decline in popularity has relegated these objects to fad status. The catch phrase sung in the TV commercial as the plant grows in time lapse is "Ch-ch-ch-chia!"
Chia Pets are grown by applying moistened seeds of chia (Salvia hispanica), the sprout-like plant from whose common name the Chia Pet gets its name, to the grooved terra cotta figurine body. After three to five days of filling and refilling the Chia Pet with water as well as discarding water that has accumulated in the provided drip tray, the seeds sprout, having formed a gelatinous coat that adheres to the Chia Pet's body. At this point, little effort is required to maintain the plant covering of the Chia Pet.
Enough seeds are provided with the Chia Pet for three plantings. Additional seeds can be purchased for use with the Chia vessel, which is reusable. Several Chia Pet animals are currently available, including a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, and hippopotamus. Sculpted Chia heads and licensed Pets based on popular cartoon characters like Garfield, Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Shrek, The Simpsons, and most recently the Chia Obama.
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[edit] Chia collectibles timeline
- 1982 Wave 1 -- Original Chia Pet (later called Chia Ram) introduced.
- 198x Wave 2 -- Chia Bull, Chia Puppy, Chia Kitten, and Chia Tree introduced.
- 1993 Wave 3 -- Chia Bunny, Chia Turtle, and Chia Herb Garden introduced.
- 1995 Wave 4 -- Chia Pig, Chia Frog, Chia Hippo, and original Chia Head (later called Chia Guy) introduced. Chia Ram and Chia Bull discontinued.
- 1996 Wave 5 -- Chia Elephant, Chia Kid, Chia Professor, Chia Clown and Chia Terra Cotta Herb Garden introduced. Chia Herb Garden discontinued.
- 1998 Wave 6 -- Chia Cow and Chia Lion Cub introduced.
- 2000 Wave 7 -- Chia Dinosaur, Chia Elmer Fudd, Chia Taz, and Chia Tweety introduced. "Watch-Me-Grow Chia Cards" included. Chia Mr. T issued briefly for TV Land promotion.
- 2002 Wave 8 -- Chia Scooby-Doo, Chia Shaggy, and Chia Homer introduced. "Watch-Me-Grow Chia Cards" discontinued.
- 2003 Wave 9 -- Chia Bugs Bunny, Chia Daffy Duck, and Chia Bart introduced.
- 2004 Wave 10 -- Chia Shrek, Chia Donkey, Chia Garfield, Chia Cat Grass Planter featuring Sylvester and Tweety, and Gourmet Chia Herb Garden introduced. Chia Terra Cotta Herb Garden discontinued.
- 2006 Wave 11 -- Chia Bear, Chia Alex and Chia Marty introduced, Chia Ram and Chia Bull reintroduced, Chia Kid, Chia Clown and Chia Lion Cub retired, Chia Alarm Clock included with all Chia Pets, Chia Heads and Chia Tree, Cuddly Chia Puppy and Cuddly Chia Cub introduced.
- 2007 -- Pack-ins expanded to include Mini Chia Cuddly and Chia Watch.
- 2008 Wave 12 -- Chia Po, Chia Tree with Star Light, and Chia Cat Grass Planter featuring "snoozing kitty" introduced. Chia Ram, Chia Bull, Chia Turtle, Chia Bear, Chia Elmer Fudd, Chia Bugs Bunny, Chia Daffy Duck, Chia Tree, Cuddly Chia Puppy, and Cuddly Chia Cub discontinued. Pack-ins include Mini Chia Cuddly and Chia Playing Cards. Chia Obama "Determined" and Chia Obama "Happy" released in April 2009, after normal selling season.
[edit] Account of types of Chia Pets
[edit] Chia Pets
All include seeds for three plantings and drip tray. All include "Watch-Me-Grow Chia Card" as of wave 7, excluding Ram and Bull, which were discontinued with wave 4, and Chia Crocodile, which was introduced in wave 10. Watch-Me-Grow Chia Cards discontinued with wave 8. All include a Chia Alarm Clock during wave 11 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Chia Pet in 2006, in 2007 could include either the Chia Alarm Clock, Chia Watch, or Mini Chia Cuddly, and in 2008 could include either the Mini Chia Cuddly or a deck of Chia Playing Cards.
- Chia Ram -- Original Chia Pet (1982), discontinued with wave 4, reintroduced with wave 11 for the anniversary and discontinued again with wave 12.
- Chia Bull -- Wave 2 (198x), discontinued with wave 4, reintroduced with wave 11 for the anniversary and discontinued again with wave 12.
- Chia Puppy -- Wave 2 (198x).
- Chia Kitten -- Wave 2 (198x).
- Chia Bunny -- Wave 3 (1993).
- Chia Turtle -- Wave 3 (1993).
- Chia Pig -- Wave 4 (1995).
- Chia Frog -- Wave 4 (1995).
- Chia Hippo -- Wave 4 (1995).
- Chia Elephant -- Wave 5 (1996).
- Chia Cow -- Wave 6 (1998).
- Chia Dinosaur -- Wave 7 (2000).
- Chia Crocodile -- Wave 10 (2004).
- Chia Bear -- Wave 11 (2006), discontinued with wave 12.
[edit] Chia Pet Cuddlies
Chia Pet Cuddlies are plush toys with soft fabric "Chia" fur bodies. They play the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia jingle when a paw is pressed. The Chia Pet Cuddlies were only available during the anniversary period.
- Cuddly Chia Puppy -- Wave 11 (2006), discontinued with wave 12.
- Cuddly Chia Cub -- Wave 11 (2006), a bear cub, discontinued with wave 12.
[edit] Chia Heads
All include seeds for three plantings and drip tray. Include Watch-Me-Grow Chia Card as of wave 7. Watch-Me-Grow Chia Cards discontinued as of wave 8. Chia Guy and Chia Professor include a Chia Alarm Clock during wave 11 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Chia Pet in 2006, in 2007 could include either the Chia Alarm Clock, Chia Watch, or Mini Chia Cuddly, and in 2008 could include either the Mini Chia Cuddly or a deck of Chia Playing Cards.
- Chia Guy -- Original Chia Head, arrived in wave 4 (1995).
- Chia Kid -- Wave 5 (1996), discontinued with wave 11.
- Chia Professor -- Wave 5 (1996).
- Chia Clown -- Wave 5 (1996), discontinued with wave 11.
- Chia Lion Cub -- Wave 6 (1998), discontinued with wave 11.
[edit] Licensed / Famous Chia
All include seeds for three plantings and drip tray. Looney Tunes planters included Watch-Me-Grow Chia Card until cards were discontinued with wave 8. Called Famous Chia as of wave 10.
- Chia Mr. T -- Introduced just before normal selling period of wave 7 (2000). a head type. Limited run only.
- Chia Elmer Fudd -- Wave 7 (2000), a head type, discontinued with wave 12.
- Chia Taz -- Wave 7 (2000), a pet type.
- Chia Tweety -- Wave 7 (2000), a head type.
- Chia Bugs Bunny -- Wave 9 (2003), a head type, discontinued with wave 12.
- Chia Daffy Duck -- Wave 9 (2003), a head type, discontinued with wave 12.
- Scooby-Doo!
- Chia Scooby-Doo -- Wave 8 (2002), a head type.
- Chia Shaggy -- Wave 8 (2002), a head type.
- Shrek
- Chia Garfield -- Wave 10 (2004), a head type.
- Chia Alex -- Wave 11 (2006), a head type.
- Chia Marty -- Wave 11 (2006), a head type.
- Chia Po -- Wave 12 (2007), a bust depicting the character from the waist up, rather than a head as most Licensed Chia are made, or a full body as Chia Taz is made.
- Chia Obama "Determined" -- released April 2009, after the normal 2008 selling season. Base of planter is engraved with "BARACK OBAMA 44th President USA" on the front, and "Yes We Can" on the sides.
- Chia Obama "Happy" -- released April 2009, after the normal 2008 selling season. Base of planter is engraved with "BARACK OBAMA 44th President USA" on the front, and "Yes We Can" on the sides.
Shortly after the release of the Chia Obama, Walgreens pulled the product claiming it does not fit their image.[1]
[edit] Herb Gardens
All include various things, so each is given a complete listing.
- Chia Herb Garden -- Wave 3 (1993) initial version: six pots (plastic), six saucers (plastic), time-release plant food, growing mix for six pots, six packets of different herb seeds (cilantro, sweet marjoram, sweet basil, chives, curled cress, thyme), six plant markers, recipe book. Discontinued with wave 5 (1996).
- Chia Terra Cotta Herb Garden -- Wave 5 (1996) second version: four pots (terracotta), four saucers (terracotta), four Chia Growing Sponges, six packets of different herb seeds (cilantro, sweet marjoram, basil, chives, dill, parsley), six plant markers, four saucer liners, and recipe book. Discontinued with wave 10 (2004).
- Gourmet Chia Herb Garden -- Wave 10 (2004), includes four pots (terracotta), four saucers (terracotta), four Chia Growing Sponges, six packets of different 'gourmet' herb seeds (cilantro, sweet marjoram, sweet basil, chives, dill, curled parsley), six plant markers, four saucer liners, and recipe book.
[edit] Chia Trees
- Chia Tree -- Wave 2 (198x), includes seeds for three plantings and drip tray, can be used as a candle holder. Included 'Watch-Me-Grow Chia Card' as of wave 7, but no longer as of wave 8. Includes a Chia Alarm Clock during wave 11 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Chia Pet in 2006, and in 2007 could include either the Chia Alarm Clock, Chia Watch, or Mini Chia Cuddly. Discontinued with wave 12.
- Chia Tree with Star Light -- Wave 12 (2008), includes seeds for three plantings, drip tray, battery canister, and Star Light. The Star Light is powered by two AA batteries and changes through colors as it remains on. It's battery canister is placed down into the Chia Tree through the same hole used to fill the planter with water and to hold a candle on the original Chia Tree.
[edit] Chia Cat Grass Planter
All include Chia Growing Mix, Cat Grass seeds (a mix of sweet oat and wheat grass) for three plantings, and a plastic saucer. The purpose of the Chia Cat Grass Planter is to give something tasty and nutritious for cats to eat, other than one's Chia Pets.
- Chia Cat Grass Planter featuring Sylvester and Tweety -- Wave 10 (2004), original Chia Cat Grass Planter with Sylvester and Tweety from the Looney Tunes on the planter.
- Chia Cat Grass Planter featuring "snoozing kitty" -- Wave 12 (2008), a new Chia Cat Grass Planter was introduced alongside the original, depicting a non-licensed grey cat sleeping on the edge of the planter. The moniker "snoozing kitty" is used to differentiate its listing on the Joseph Enterprizes web-site, but is not used on the packaging.
[edit] Promotional items
At various times, promotional items have been made available, packaged with some Chia Collectibles, rather than being available individually.
[edit] Watch-Me-Grow Chia Cards
Available from 2000 to 2001, with most Chia products (except for the Terra Cotta Herb Garden). A Watch-Me-Grow Chia Card displays a changing image of the Chia item it was packaged with in various stages of growth, from the bare Terra Cotta statue, to the fully grown image normally displayed on the packaging. During the time they were available, the cards were rubber-pasted to the front of the packaging, where the usual product image was normally located, though still sealed under the outer layer of shrink-wrap. Watch-Me-Grow Chia Cards were available depicting the following items: Chia Puppy, Chia Kitten, Chia Bunny, Chia Turtle, Chia Pig, Chia Frog, Chia Hippo, Chia Elephant, Chia Cow, Chia Dinosaur, Chia Guy, Chia Kid, Chia Professor, Chia Clown, Chia Lion Cub, Chia Elmer Fudd, Chia Taz, Chia Tweety, and Chia Tree.
[edit] Chia Alarm Clock
Available packaged with all Chia Pets, the two remaining Chia Heads, and the Chia Tree during wave 11 in 2006 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Chia Pet. The Chia Alarm Clock is a small plastic LCD alarm clock resembling Chia Puppy at full growth, and plays the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia jingle as its alarm sound.
[edit] Mini Chia Cuddly and Chia Watch
In 2007, pack-ins were available with the same items as the previous year, but were expanded. The Chia Alarm Clock continued to be available, but packages could also contain a Mini Chia Cuddly in the shape of the bear cub, or a Chia Watch, which was a simple digital watch with a clear gel watchband having tiny colored images of various Chia Pets stamped on it. Each packaged Chia Pet, Chia Head, or Chia Tree displayed a decal indicating which of the three pack-ins would be found inside.
[edit] Chia Playing Cards
In 2008, the available pack-ins included only the previously available Mini Chia Cuddly and a new deck of Chia Playing Cards. The cards were of the standard four-suit playing card variety, and had pictures of various Chia Pets in the center of each card.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/09/chia-pet-creator-shocked-walgreens-pulls-obama-model-shelves/
