Açaí Berries

The açaí palm is a palm tree cultivated for hearts of palm and for its fruit, known as the açaí berry. The berries are highly sought after due to their supposed medicinal properties, and they are often classified by producers as a type of "superfood." They are a dark purple in color, resembling large blueberries.

In the Amazon region, where they have been a staple food for centuries, açaí berries are consumed beaten into a pulp. The flavor is described as a combination of chocolate and berries. As the raw fruit must be processed within 24 hours of harvesting, the berries have only recently gained worldwide popularity due to modern technology and transport.

When it was discovered that açaí berries retain their nutritional value when frozen, they were brought to Rio de Janeiro by northern Brazilians from the Amazon region. As the berries have been promoted as being rich in natural antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids, their popularity spread quickly throughout the United States and Europe as a dietary supplement.

Currently, açaí berries enjoy such popularity that the açaí farming industry employs over 30,000 people in the Brazilian state of Pará alone. While numerous claims have been made as to the health benefits of açaí berries, no scientific proof has yet been provided to support these claims.