The Acai tree is found in very warm, tropical climates like that of the Amazonian region of Brazil. It is a unique palm tree that produces a reddish purple berry. The berry has a twofold taste of tart berries and chocolate flavoring mixed together. Additionally, the soft inside of the palm tree’s trunk, also known as the heart of palm, is cut out and used in many dishes including salads.
The Caboclo population in the Amazon region use the whole acai palm, mostly as part of their staple foods. It is used for many different things in the Brazilian culture, however. They use just about every part of the palm. Naturally, the acai fruit is eaten. The hearts are harvested and eaten, and the leaves are harvested and used hats, brooms, baskets, thatch for roofing, and mats. The trunk of the trees, which is very resistant to pests, is used in construction of homes and other buildings.
You’ve seen it on many infomercials and talk shows. The berry is claimed to have many properties that the health food buff or dieter needs. They claim it can energize you by boosting your metabolism. However, to the natives where this tree grows, their concern was using it as a staple food and other uses, since they found they could use the whole tree. They have taught its use to their children, passed down from one generation to the next.
Many natives now grow the trees and make a living from the harvest by selling them to exporters to ship to other countries for the berries, hearts of palm, leaves and trunks. Brazil even incorporates the acai berries in soda, juice, ice cream, and other flavored drinks, including alcoholic ones. They are served chilled or at room temperature in pitchers made from gourds, and can be flavored with sugar or salt. They also provide acai now in freeze-dried and powdered forms. Seeds from the Acai Palm tree are harvested and replanted. It takes several months for seedlings to form. Extra seeds are also ground up and used to feed livestock and as organic additives for plant soil.
There have recently been a few questions raised on the actual nutritional value of the acai berry. It was first declared to be an extremely high source of antioxidant content, but other researches claim that acai actually falls below the pomegranate, and eleven different frozen fruit juices, including the mango, the strawberry, red wine, blueberry juice and concord grape juice. They say it ranks on average with black cherry and cranberry juice, but has a higher amount of antioxidants than orange and apple juices.
Some other studies have indicated that this berry may be a future treatment for leukemia, diabetes, heart diseases, other forms of cancer, and even high blood pressure. In fact, they are already using acai as a contrast agent during MRI’s for gastrointestinal scans. The acai berry still packs quite a beneficial punch, no matter what the latest reports claim.
