Açai berries: properties and benefits of this extraordinary fruit

We are talking about a truly versatile and powerful superfood, theAçai berries: we will reveal the benefits and properties of this extraordinary fruit.

Açai Berries (pronounced asaìwith the final accent) are small blue-purple fruits, which originate in the rainforests of the Amazon.

They have always been used by Brazilian natives for their extraordinary therapeutic abilities and are today considered a superfood capable of giving energy and resistance.

Thanks to its powerful beneficial effects, açai is no longer used only as a staple food of South American populations, but is also conquering Europe and the world.

The incredible concentration of antioxidants, due to the presence of its vegetable dyes, the anthocyanins, but also the presence of fibre, vitamins and minerals, make the Acai fruit a excellent food for the body.

Properties and benefits of Açai Berries

The American doctor Perricone includes açaí in the list of the ten best superfoods, defining it as the "energy fruit" and underlining its antioxidant power.

Antioxidants can be considered the antagonists of free radicals: in particular, anthocyanins perform an antioxidant action, capable of counteracting the premature aging of cells and tissues.

Anthocyanins fight free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress.

Furthermore, açai contains high levels of essential fatty acids, large quantities of plant sterols, contains fibers that aid digestion and finally is rich in minerals and vitamins.

What plant do Açai berries come from?

Its scientific name is Euterpe oleracea, Euterpe was one of the Greek muses, while oleracea derives from the Latin olis-oleris which means “vegetable”: a vegetable worthy of semi-divine figures, therefore.

Açai palms can reach a height of 15-25 m, on a flat space they remain lower, while where the vegetation is thicker they grow a lot.

They thrive in areas near the equator, but the area where there is a greater presence of this plant is in the Amazon basin.

The Açaí palm is a plant closely linked to climatic factors, especially widespread in periodically submerged plains (called várzeas). It is found mainly in floodplains or river regions of the Brazilian Amazon basin.

What do you get from the Açai plant?

There are testimonies that allow us to understand that this palm was already used three thousand years ago.

The whole plant can be used, but certainly the most important parts are:

• The pulp of the fruit, i.e. the açai berries
• Hearts of palm
• The seeds of Açai

From a nutritional, but also economic point of view, the most important part isthe pulp of the Açai berries, from which the juice is also obtained, which is one of the key foods in the Amazon diet.

The palm hearts are also called palmitos, can measure up to 60 cm and have a diameter of 2-3 cm and are located above the capital of the palm.

They are considered a delicacy especially in France, but also in the United States. They have a sweet flavor and can be eaten in salads or to prepare delicious soups.

The açaí seeds are large in size and are partly composted to obtain soil. Furthermore, they are used to grow new palm trees, or as pig feed.

Sometimes they are also used to make local crafts.

The processing of Açai berries

The processing of this fruit is still carried out manually today.

The harvesters climb the palm tree with the help of a harness and cut the entire infructescence or shake the plant causing the berries to fall to the ground.

The açai berries are then removed one by one and collected in a basket: the fruits, once collected, are soaked in water, the Acai berries are carefully washed and drained.

Subsequently the Açai pulp is separated from the seed, this process is very difficult and carried out by specialized people.

Inside a pot the fruits are vigorously massaged and the pulp is passed through two square-shaped sieves. The first sieve has larger holes (caroceiro) while the second has finer mesh (paneira fina)and they are placed one on top of the other while the fruits are positioned in the middle.

Pressed also thanks to the use of a little water, the seeds are then placed back in the pot and re-massaged again.

They are pressed again to remove the last remains of pulp from the seeds.

The processing of this fruit provides work to many people, around 30,000, and Açaí represents a large part of the income for Brazilian families.

Açaí for a very long time was a food only for rural populations, but in recent years it has raised its status to that of superfood and source of energy natural.

The marketing and export phase began a few years ago. This happens thanks to modern freeze-drying techniques, which allow large quantities to be transported and all its properties kept intact.

In fact, once harvested the fruit can be stored for approximately twenty-four hours, but by observing adequate precautions the taste and its properties remain unchanged.

So let's see how the pulp of the Açai berries is processed to get them into our homes, keeping all their beneficial and nutritional properties intact!

What criteria should you follow when choosing a good Açai?

When purchasing açai berries you must pay particular attention to certain criteria, which are very important in choosing the best product:

1) Organic cultivation

2) The High nutritional content

3) Adequate freeze-drying (Freeze – Dried)

What is meant by Freeze – Dried freeze-drying?

Since the berries deteriorate within 24 hours of harvesting, it is practically impossible to find them fresh and freshly picked on the market.

The transformation into açai powder therefore remains one of the best ways to consume this precious food but you must make sure that the berries are processed appropriately.

To preserve all nutritional values, berries must be processed or frozen within 24 hours of harvest.

There are two ways to make açai pulp into a powder:

• FREEZE DRIED

It is a cold and dry freezing and freeze-drying process: the açai is processed at low temperatures, preserving all the properties of the berry and maintaining the 100% natural product.

The Freeze-dried method is definitely the best method for turning pulp into powder but it is also the most expensive. For this reason the cost of the powder is significantly higher than the powder transformed using the Spry dried method.

Better read the product label carefully and if the processing method is not declared, it is most likely because the product was processed at high temperatures and using the Spry dired process.

• SPRY DRIED

In this processing method the pulp is processed at high temperatures, thus damaging the nutritional properties, color and flavor of the açai.

Furthermore, in order to obtain a soluble and powdered product it is necessary to add Maltodextrin during the process, which will therefore make the açai a no longer 100% pure and natural product.

We would like to underline that Natural Bio Açai berry powder is organic and processed with the freeze-dried method.

How to take açai berry powder?

The powder of açaí berries organic is considered the best way to integrate this precious fruit into your diet.

The açai fruit has a good flavor similar to blueberry and chocolate, so it can be consumed exactly in purity, like any other fruit.

Açai berry powder can be dissolved in water, smoothies or breakfast drinks, making it simple and pleasant to consume.

Furthermore, it is the fundamental ingredient forthe açai bowl, an ideal Brazilian recipe to enjoy for a rich and nutritious breakfast.

It is nothing more than a tasty fruit salad, enriched with cereals and dried fruit. All embellished with açaí powder with blended fruit or yogurt. The consistency will be soft and creamy, the flavor delicious and the consistency game truly interesting.

You can experiment, using this product in many recipes for smoothies, cakes and desserts, but not only...

Açai berries in powder are also used in the preparation of extraordinary beauty recipes, such as face masks, to fully enjoy the powerful anti-aging effect!

Possible contraindications of açai berries

Açaí has ​​no particular contraindications and its intake does not cause side effects.

Not suitable for people who are allergic or sensitive to the fruit, because it could cause skin reactions. Better to avoid in case of pregnancy and breastfeeding or in any case take only after talking to your doctor.