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What
is acai berry?
To begin with, acai berry is a grape-sized type
of berry growing naturally within Brazil’s
Amazon Rainforest. The fruit comes from the acai
palm (scientific name: Euterpe oleracea),
which has been found to also grow abundantly in
swamps and floodplains in the tropical areas of
Central and South America.
Acai berry is a reddish-to-purple fruit, usually
about an inch long each. Botanists say the fruit
is a relative of other popular dark-purple fruits
like cranberry and blueberry. Acai berry could still
be not as popular as other berries, but its health
benefits and nutrients will never be in any way
inferior.
Compared to grapes, acai berry has less pulp. The
fruit contains a large seed, which comprises about
80% of each fruit. The exocarp of ripe acai berry
provides a deep purple appearance (an indication
of its nutritional value) and its mesocarp appears
thin and pulpy. Acai berry may not be as tasty and
flavorful as other fruits, but its nutritive properties
could never be underestimated.
Acai berry is usually harvested as food. In the
Amazon region in Brazil, particularly in the traditional
Caboclo areas, acai berry has always been considered
an important fruit because it takes a significant
component of their diet. The fruit is also economically
valuable within the region. Natives in the area
have been harvesting acai berry for hundreds of
years.
There are many ways to consume acai berry. Of course,
the fruit could be eaten directly from the tree.
The natives of Brazil conduct a process to separate
acai berry pulp from its seed. The procedure produces
edible thick puree.
The pulp and the juice are also used in different
juice blends, sodas, smoothies and several refreshing
beverages. Still in Brazil, acai berry is served
as gourds, as a dessert in bowl and as an ice cream
flavor. Some local liquor brands also use acai berry
as an enticing flavor. |
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