Acai information

The following information has been provided by John from Pulpa.co.uk

Açai Berries (overview)

Since the early 1990's, Açai (pronounced AH-sigh-EE) has gone from only being known and consumed by natives in the Amazon basin, to becoming an intrinsic part of Brazilian food culture.

Acai became extremely popular in the US and is now starting to achieve recognition in the UK market as a superfood due to its remarkable nutritional properties. However, as more acai products enter the market, there is increased mis-information and skewed marketing regarding the fruit's true nutritional content and properties in different forms.

Pulpa was one of the first companies to introduce Acai to the UK market and we are passionate about it. Pulpa Acai comes in three formats; Acai Smoothie Sachets, Acai and Guarana Sorbet, and Pure Freeze Dried Acai powder (for adding to juices and smoothies).

What is an Acai berry?

Acai comes from the Acaizeiro palm tree that is indigenous and thrives in the Amazon basin. Acai berries grow in large bunches at the top of the palm tree and are deep violet in colour and somewhat resemble a large blueberry. Many describe the taste as combining berries with an earthy- chocolaty flavor.

How does the quality of acai products vary?

Over 90% of the acai berry is a seed with only 10% being the edible pulp. This 10% of the fruit must be blended with a little water to make the acai into a useable and edible form. This is called ACAI PULP. ALL acai products on the market are produced from this frozen acai pulp, whether it is a bottled drink, juice, powder, sorbet, or extract etc. The way in which this pulp is used or processed determines the quality and nutritional values of the acai product (and this varies enormously).

Once picked acai berries must be frozen within twelve hours and remain frozen until consumption in order to retain most of their natural characteristics and goodness. Once thawed or bottled, acai looses many of its natural characteristics and nutritional properties. This is the primary reason why the vast majority of acai in Brazil is consumed in the form of the frozen fruit pulp. Pre-packaged juice is simply not accepted.

Frozen acai pulp and freeze dried acai powder are the purest forms of acai available outside of the Amazon.

Acai's Nutritonal Content

Açai is packed with energy and is one of the world's wonder fruits in terms of its nutritional properties. Açai berries contain many more antioxidants (anthocyanins) than pomegranates or blueberries. The ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of acai is higher than any other edible berry in the world.

Acai also contains high levels of Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, valuable dietary fibers, amino acids, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.

Nutritonal values for acai vary enormously depending on the form that the acai product takes. As all acai berry products are made from ACAI PULP, the quality of the pulp and the way it is processed affect the nutritional content significantly (and any health benefits that can be claimed).

At Pulpa we vigorously test everything that we produce and export, and therefore guarantee the quality of our product.

History of Acai

Açai is highly perishable and the raw fruit must be consumed within 24 hours of picking. As a result, Açai's popularity started when some enterprising Brazilians started freezing the fruit (thus preserving all its natural characteristics) and transporting it to Rio de Janeiro. Açai rapidly became the drink of choice for Brazil's surfers, athletes, and the body conscious. By 1992 Açai was firmly part of Rio's beach culture with every bar, gym, and beach stand doing a roaring trade.

Today, Açai is drunk throughout Brazil and its consumption is firmly part of Brazilian culture. Açai then gained popularity throughout the US and is now growing in Europe as its taste and amazing nutritional properties become increasingly well known.

Harvesting of the fruit

Açai berries are indigenous to the flood plains of the Amazon estuary and are extremely abundant. For centuries they have been harvested by locals and form the staple food in the diet of many communities, taking the place of rice, bread, and milk. Such is acai's nutritional quality that it is an integral part of the nourishment, and well being of the people of the Amazonian basin.

The açai palm is extremely abundant and in areas of deforestation it is usually the first tree to grow back. Açai's popularity has started to curb deforestation as its commercial value has increased. Açai is abundant in primary forest and many landowners have realized that harvesting the naturally growing açai fruit is much more profitable than chopping down the forest and farming the land. Agronomists have also been successful in enabling the açai to be cultivated sustainably with high yield through crop rotation methods. Consequently açai production has soared and brought valuable work to many impoverished areas whilst maintaining the natural environment of the rainforest.

The vast majority of acai is wildly harvested and transported to the port of Belem by river boat over night. Once it Belem, it must be processed immediately and frozen within 12 hours of picking.

Pulpa Açai

Pulpa uses hand picked açai berries taken from the Amazon basin that are naturally from an organic source (not organically certified YET). The berries are then pulped and frozen immediately to ensure that the natural characteristics are retained.