The Acai Berries
The acai berry, renowned for its health benefits, is the fruit of the
acai palm tree. Part of the Euterpe genus, these trees are native to
Central and South America. They are especially prominent in Belize,
Brazil, and Peru where they grow on floodplains and in swampy regions.
The trees themselves are rather tall, growing up to thirty meters in
height. They even sport leaves that can be up to three inches in length.
Despite their size, though, these palms are most famous for the small
berries they produce.
Acai berries are roughly one inch in diameter. However, nearly 80 -
90% of this size is made up by a berry’s pit. The outer pulp is a deep
shade of purple that appears nearly black when fully ripe. Some people
say the berries resemble black grapes, but with less flesh. The berries
grow in clusters of up to a thousand berries on one branch. Furthermore,
each tree can produce two crops of berries each year, or a total of 30
kilograms of berries. For centuries, the acai berries were harvested by
men who climbed up wild acai palms. Today, though, thousands of people
are involved in the planting, cultivating and harvesting process.
This plentiful growth means some native cultures in the Amazon region
rely on the acai for more than 40% of their food. They call the acai the
“ica-ica” or “fruit that cries.” It is consumed in many forms, though
usually not raw. It can be eaten as a pulpy crème, juice, liquor, or
mixed with granola. These cultures have also adopted the acai berry as a
medicinal substance, and have used it for healing purposes for thousands
of years. The fruit and its tree also have an honored place in native
folklore, and the acai is clearly a vital part of life in the Amazon
region.
The fast growth of the acai palm makes it easy to continue producing
a plentiful amount of acai berries. This is great news for consumers,
and for farmers as well. Those who grow acai palms do not only profit
from the nutritious berries they produce. Acai palms can also be
cultivated for their hearts of palm, which make nutritious additions to
salads and other dishes. Additionally, those who cultivate acai palms
often use the leaves to weave hats and other garments. The stalks that
hold the berries are also utilized and can be transformed into brooms.
Finally, the large seeds that make up nearly all the acai berry’s mass
is usually ground down for use in livestock feed or high quality organic
soil.
The acai berry only found its way into western culture in the
mid-twentieth century when doctors began to realize the fruit possessed
numerous health benefits. Since that time, the fruit has slowly been
introduced into popular culture. Today, the acai is widely consumed by
athletes and celebrities who need to keep their bodies in top condition.
As more and more people see the benefits this berry reaps, its
popularity will continue to grow throughout the world.
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