Living Touch

The Açai palm is native to tropical Central and South America. The fruit is a small black-purple drupe which looks similar to a grape but has a smaller amount of pulp and a single large seed which is about 7-10 mm in diameter. It grows in clusters or panicles of about 800 berries. For centuries, the people of the Amazon region have harvested this berry and pulped it to make wine and used it as medicine for numerous ailments. It is considered to be one of the most nutritious fruits of the Amazon region.

The Legend of Açai

Once upon a time an Indian tribe was devastated by famine. To save his people, the chief of the tribe decreed that every newborn child would be killed, as there was not enough food to feed them. Not long after that, the chief’s daughter Iaça gave birth to a little girl child, but not even the chief’s granddaughter could escape the decree. Iaça cried day and night, grieving for her beautiful daughter. One night, she heard the cry of a child. She hurried towards the sound and found her child underneath a slender palm tree. Overjoyed, Iaça reached out to embrace her and happily died beneath the tree. The next day, Iaça was found with a smile on her face looking up towards the dark-purple fruits of the palm. The chief immediately ordered his people to harvest these fruits. They found out that a juice could be extracted from the berries with which the whole tribe could be fed. The chief’s decree was lifted, and in memory of Iaça, the fruit that saved the tribe was called Açai, which is Iaça backwards.

Nutritional Content of The Açai Berry

The Açai berry is rich in anthocyanin phytonutrients which belong to the flavonoid class of antioxidants. The berry contains 10 to 30 times as much flavonoids as contained in red wine. It is rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, minerals, protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, and amino-acids. Almost one third of its mass is dietary fiber which makes it an exceptional source for this valuable macronutrient.

Health Benefits of The Açai Berry

The anthocyanin pigments which give the berry the characteristic black-purple color, are known to prevent cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic inflammation, bacterial infections, urinary tract infections, premature aging, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as control cholesterol levels, increase energy, improve your sex life, and help with weight loss. It is not surprising, therefore, that the fruit has been called „power berry“, „super berry“, and even „Amazon’s Viagra“.

Harvesting The Açai Fruit

Each Açai palm can produce more than 50 pounds of berries annually. In Brazil, the harvesting of the Açai berry has become a major industry that employs up to 30,000 people on a daily basis for the harvesting and processing of the product. As the fruit deteriorates rapidly after harvesting, it is restricted to either being eaten in the growing region, or to being processes and shipped as juice or frozen pulp. During the last decade, the Açai berry has gained great popularity in Brazil, and the industry has become an economic alternative to the logging industry. Brazilians consume the frozen pulp in yogurt, drinks, smoothies, ice cream, or as a cereal topping. In the US and Canada, Açai berry juice, Açai berry powder, Açai berry granola, or Açai berry capsules, as well as a variety of other products are being sold in health food stores or can be purchased in online shops.