Chia Pets have become a cultural staple, enduring for more than four decades. These quirky terra cotta planters, which allow users to grow sprouts resembling “hair” on various animal shapes, have remained as popular as ever since they were first marketed in the early 1980s. Their catchy “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!” jingle has become iconic across generations, and over 25 million Chia Pets have been sold to date, with the brand even making its way into the Smithsonian Institution.

The Chia Pet story begins in 1958, when Joseph Pedott, a Chicago native and University of Illinois graduate, moved to San Francisco to start his own advertising agency. In 1980, while attending a housewares trade show, Pedott learned about a popular but unprofitable terra cotta planter shaped like a ram, which grew chia sprouts when watered. Intrigued, Pedott purchased the rights to the product from its inventor, Walter Houston, and began investigating ways to improve the business.

Pedott traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, where the planters were made, and discovered a middleman stealing from the process. He fired the thief and began working directly with the planters’ makers. The next challenge was marketing. In 1981, Pedott founded Joseph Enterprises, a gadget company, and began selling the Chia Pet. The company introduced the Chia ram, which became the first widely marketed Chia Pet. TV commercials, known for their low-budget charm and catchy jingle, made the product a household name in the 1980s. The success of the Chia ram led to other Chia animals, such as turtles, kittens, and puppies.

The famous “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!” jingle is often credited to either a brainstorming session at the agency or a moment in a bar. Regardless of how it originated, Pedott knew it was a hit. In 1985, the company also introduced the Clapper, another popular product with a memorable jingle.

By the 1990s, Chia Pets had become a pop culture phenomenon, even being parodied on Saturday Night Live. In the early 2000s, the company began producing licensed Chia Pets featuring characters from Looney Tunes, Homer Simpson, and Mr. T. In 2001, a Chia Pet was included in a time capsule in New York, destined to be opened in 3000.

In 2003, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History asked Pedott to donate a collection of Chia Pets, along with the company’s papers and TV advertising tapes, to its Behring archive center. By 2008, Chia started making planters of real-life public figures, beginning with President Barack Obama. Sales of these Chia figures, particularly during election years, have been seen as a fun and quirky way to predict election outcomes.

In 2018, Joseph Enterprises was acquired by NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association), a leading distributor of licensed products, and continued to create licensed products from popular franchises, including Star Wars. In 2023, Chia.com launched a new, interactive website, continuing the legacy of this beloved and ever-evolving brand.