ACAI PROFILE

NAME: Acai

LATIN NAME: Euterpe Oleracea

HABITAT: Brazil and Peru in the delta of the Amazon River.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION: Acai can be found on swampy and coastal areas of South and Central America.

Representatives of the genus are tall tree-shaped plants from 12 to 30 metres with smooth and thin body. Leaves are of rich green color and slightly pinnate. The flowers of Euterpe Oleracea are white and gathered in racemose inflorescence. Acai berries are the fruits of this tropical palm called Euterpe vegetable. The berries are dark purple, spherical, cherry-size with a large bone inside.  Everyone describes their taste in different ways: chocolate, nutty, raspberry or blackberry.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: The uniqueness of the acai berries is in its incredible composition of minerals and vitamins. Berries are packed with Omega fatty acids, proteins, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and carbohydrates. Vitamin composition includes Vitamin C, E A, B1, B2, B3 and K. Large percentage of antioxidant substances, fibers, tocopherols, carotenoids, flavonoids and hormones of natural origin makes acai berries many times greater than blueberries, grapes or red wine.

YUMMY RECIPE: 

Nutritious smoothie with acai: Add 2 Tbls of acai powder, 1 banana and a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup to a glass of natural yogurt. Blend everything until a thick cocktail is formed. The drink can be enriched with nuts and dried fruits.

SOME HISTORY:

The natives of Central and South America have used all the benefits of berries for a long period of time. Having checked all the beneficial effects, they gave acai berries several names: “black pearls”, “berries of youth”, “vitamin pills”, “Amazonian Viagra”.

Acai berries are more effective to use fresh, but the locals learned how to make juice and other beverages from it. If not to process fruit in a proper time, then the main part of nutrients is lost.

The popularity of the Acai fruit began in 2004, with the publication of the book on nutritionism by American Nicholas Perricon. The studies of the natives of the Amazonian tropics showed that the secret of their longevity lies in the daily use of the Acai berries.

There is a legend that in one tribe of Indians there happened great grief: people died of starvation, so the leader ordered to sacrifice every newborn. After some time, his daughter Iaca gave birth to a child. After killing her baby, Iaca desperately prayed that the leader would choose another way of sacrifice to the gods. One night a woman heard a baby cry. She went out to look and under the spreading branches of the palm tree she saw her daughter. But Iaca could not take her: the baby disappeared like a shadow. In the morning, the Indians found Iaca dead near a tree. The tree was full of long clusters of small dark berries. The tribe was saved, and the tree itself was named after the unhappy woman. Acai got the name “Iaca”, but read from right to left.

*Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.