The World of Acai

Benefits of Acai                                What is Acai?

General Facts

The açaí (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) berry grows as a wild plant on top of many native palm trees in the Amazon rainforest with the fruits of the plant being harvested by local farmers. The açaí berry, which is small in size (smaller than a grape) and known for its deep purple color, is mostly seed covered in a small amount of pulp. When quickly frozen, this fruit pulp retains its vast nutritional value even when being shipped around the world.

For such a tiny fruit, the açaí berry has a number of healthy benefits. The açaí berry is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and heart protecting fatty acids. It can also play an important role in protecting our health by boosting the body’s immune system and providing an increase in energy. With 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and twice the antioxidants of blueberries, the açaí berry is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth earning it the title of “Superfood”.

When choosing between products made with açaí berry, it is important to choose only the highest quality products. Products which contain certified organic açaí hold higher nutritional values, and those which denote the USDA organic logo ensure a consumer that the product is comprised of at least 95% certified organic açaí. Also, due to the berry’s fragile nature, make sure to look for products that have been frozen quickly after harvest because the açaí berry looses its potency 24 hours after being picked. How the açaí berries are handled after harvest can have a significant impact on their health benefits, so it is important to buy your products from those who use the best manufacturing methods.

The Legend

Once upon a time, there was an Amazon Indian girl named Iaca, whose father was the tribal chief. His tribe had grown so large that there wasn't enough food to go around. So, the chief decreed that all newborn babies must be killed. When Iaca, his own daughter, bore a child, the chief had his decree carried out. Iaca mourned her baby's death alone in her hut for days. Then she thought she heard a baby crying. When she went outside in search of the baby, she saw a palm tree shooting up from the earth, covered in fruit. Full of despair, she lay down under the tree and died. The next day, the tribe found Iaca's body under the new tree. The tree's fruit satisfied their hunger and renewed their energy, and the chief lifted his harsh decree, declaring that the fruit would be named after his daughter ("Acai" is "Iaca" spelled backwards). With abundant food for all, the tribe grew and flourished.