The Acai berry is the fruit of the Acai Palm. This is a species of palm trees native to Central and South America. The tree grows over 13 feet in height and bears big dark purple berries. The fruit produces twice yearly and just one tree usually produces thousands of the berries. It is native to the Amazon rainforest and indigenous Brazilians have been using it to treat ailments and support recovery from illness for thousands of years. The Acai berry is so nutritious that it has been known to sustain the indigenous peoples of the Amazon through times of famine. The fruit is small, purple and perfectly round; about one inch in circumference.
The berries are also powerful anti-inflammatories that can help reduce pain and soreness and anecdotal evidence suggests that they also act as a mild anti-depressant.
The Acai berry also contains anthocyanins, fiber, plant sterols, and both omega 6 and omega 3 essential fatty acids. Acai also contains five hundred times more vitamin C than oranges, making it a valuable anti-aging food. It also promotes weight loss. They are one of the few fruits that contain most of the amino acids that comprise a full protein.
You can find Acai juice quite easily in most grocery stores but be sure to check labels to make sure it is not “cut” too heavily with other juices such as grape or apple.
The most common Acai product available is the frozen pulp but once again be sure to read labels to make sure that there is no sugar added. Acai should be the first ingredient on the label and not sugar or some other kind of fruit or additive.
The raw berries are mostly available in organic or specialty markets, organic and health food markets and in Asian or Far Eastern markets.
Acai is sold either as fresh raw berries, as a frozen berry or pulp and as a powder.
The Acai berry is 90% seed and only 1% of the berry is actually edible. That is why it is often sold only as a puree of skin and pulp that is frozen.
If you are making a sherbet or other frozen dessert than using the frozen pulp or frozen berries may shorten the chilling time for the desert. The quality or the taste of the berry is not affected at all by freezing.