Acai is a delicious dark purple berry that resembles a blueberry and is native to the Amazon rainforest, the most bio-diverse ecosystem in the world. Its flavor is often described as a rich combination of blueberries and dark chocolate. It has been consumed by indigenous people for centuries and remains a staple of the region’s diet. The berry (actually a drupe) grows in large clusters, up to 900 at a time, at the top of slender acai palm trees, which can reach heights of 25 meters. Since acai is highly perishable, the raw fruit must be processed within 24 hours of harvest, and only regions bordering the Amazon have benefited from acai in recent decades.

The popularity of acai began to rise when it was discovered that in order to maintain its nutritional value, it must be frozen shortly after processing. It was brought to the city of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s and 1980s by northern Brazilians from the Amazon region and began to be consumed as a natural source of energy. For the people of Rio, known for their very active and healthy lifestyle, acai was the perfect ingredient. Around this time, another Amazonian berry called guarana, which had been used for many decades as a natural energy booster, was used with the frozen acai to create the famous acai bowl (“açaí na tigela”): a delicious and healthy combination of frozen acai, guarana, fresh fruit and granola. This style of acai quickly became very popular with amateur and professional athletes, surfers and the body conscious. By the mid-1990s, acai had become a permanent fixture in Rio's beach culture, with every bar, gym, and beach stand doing a brisk trade. Today, acai is eaten and drunk all over Brazil, and its consumption is a permanent fixture in Brazilian culture. It's even known as "Nature's Viagra" in some parts of the country.

Now, the science is behind this magical little berry – it is high in essential fatty acids (especially omega 3), has a higher concentration of antioxidants than other popular berries like cranberries or blueberries, and is also rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins (especially calcium and vitamin E). Acai is very low in sugar, so it will not alter blood sugar levels and is an excellent source of dietary fiber and natural energy.