WHAT IS AÇAI?
This delicious berry pronounced "asayee" originates from the Amazon forest in Brazil.
The tall palm trees contain branches with up to 900 berries.
Once gathered, twice a year, the berries are transformed in a puree and immediately frozen to save their nutrients.
Pure açai pulp is similar to pure cocoa, not very tasty but with a lot of health benefits!
To add a little bit of sweetness to our recipes, the pulp packs we use from the Holy Berry have 0.1% of guarana added, a splash of lime juice and a hint of cane sugar.
Guarana, also a fruit from the Brazilian territory, is known to be a good energy booster!
85% of pure açai berries are used and they have the Special Grade label which means the packs have the highest açai pulp concentrate (least amount of water present).
FUN FACT: pure açai can be used both for salty and sweet dishes as the original pulp is bitter.
In the north of Brazil they eat açai with meat or fish!
HEALTH BENEFITS
Sources:
-
da Silva, J. K., Cesar, T. B., & de Souza, M. F. (2012). Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp dietary intake improves cellular antioxidant enzymes and biomarkers of serum in
healthy women. Nutrition, 28(5), 508-514. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.12.030
-
Skarpanska-Stejnborn, A., Pilaczynska-Szczesniak, L., et al. (2014). Effects of supplementation with acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry-based juice blend on the blood
antioxidant defence capacity and lipid profile in junior hurdlers: A pilot study. Biomedical Research International, 2014, Article ID 11. DOI: 10.5604/20831862.1144419
-
Bagchi, D. (2019). Chapter 3.1 - Açai or Brazilian Berry (Euterpe oleracea). In Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Cancer Prevention (Vol. 7, pp. 41-54). DOI:
4.Holy Berry
5. Sanabria, N., & Sangronis, E. (2007). Characterization of the acai or manaca (Euterpe oleracea Mart.): A fruit of the Amazon. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición, 57(1), 94-98. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6016642_Characterization_of_the_acai_or_manaca_Euterpe_oleracea_Mart_A_fruit_of_the_Amazon
-Potent Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Flavonoids in the Nutrient-Rich Amazonian Palm Fruit, Açaí (Euterpe spp.)
December 2014
December 20141:219-239
DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-398456-2.00018-9
In book: Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease (pp.219-239)Chapter: Chapter 18.Publisher: Academic Press: San DiegoEditors: Ronald Ross Watson, Victor R. Preedy, Sherma Zibadi
ANTIOXIDANTS
The açai berries have 3 times as many antioxidants as blueberries.
LOWERS CHANCE FOR DISEASES
Antioxidants protect against free radicals in our body, which reduces the incidence of chronic diseases. They have cardioprotective and neuroprotective benefits.
FIBER
HEALTHY FATS
Omega 3, 6 and 9
REDUCES BLOOD SUGAR
REDUCES CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT
MINERALS
Calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium, chromium, iron, manganese, potassium, sodium and phosphorus
VITAMINS
Vitamin A, B1, B6, C
AMAZONIAN MYTH: PRINCESS IAÇA
Açai's roots are deeply embedded in myth and folklore, particularly in the enchanting story of Princess Iaça.
Long ago, a Brazilian tribal chief, during a time of severe famine, ordered that all newborns must be killed to conserve resources. Tragically, this included the infant of his own daughter, Princess Iaça. Grieving for months within her hut, one night, she was drawn outside by the cries of a baby. Under the full moon, she discovered a magnificent palm tree covered in fruit. Looking up, she saw no baby, and in her despair, she died to grief beneath the tree.
When the chief discovered Iaça's body, he declared the Açaí tree sacred. He ordered the tribe to harvest its berries, which ended the famine and lifted his harsh decree. The tree was named "Açaí" in her honor, which is "Iaça" in reverse, to commemorate his beloved daughter's sacrifice.