| The acai palm tree is one of eight palm species | | | | from the acai fruit to treat diarrhea. They also add |
| classified under the genus Euterpe. Pronounced | | | | shredded acai rind to topical wash solutions for skin |
| “ah-sigh-ee”, acai grows abundantly in the | | | | ulcers. In Peru, acai seeds are ground, toasted and |
| floodplains and swamps of Central and South America | | | | applied to fevers. In Colombia, the acai, also called naidi, |
| where the tropical climate is friendly to this blackish | | | | is a very popular gastronomic delight. |
| purple drupe. | | | | Along the banks of the Amazon River, natives |
| Acai palm trees are grown for their fruits and hearts. | | | | consume acai like water. They extract the juice by |
| While it has been a staple food for many years in | | | | first soaking the fruit in water. Once the skin is |
| Brazil, the acai berry has become extremely popular in | | | | softened, the acai is squeezed and strained to |
| the US in recent years that global demand has gone | | | | produce a dark purple liquid. Acai extracts are |
| through the roof. | | | | consumed as fresh fruit juice or added to ice cream, |
| Similar to grapes, the acai palm tree produces berries | | | | liquor and sweet snacks. Amazonians drink up to 2 |
| in bunches, going from a green color to a dark rich | | | | liters of acai juice per day. |
| purple as they ripen. Acai fruits are round, with a single | | | | Since the time of tribal wars among Amazon warriors |
| large seed enclosed in a fibrous pulp covered with an | | | | to modern Rio de Janeiro, juice from the acai berry |
| oily skin coating. One acai palm tree can produce four | | | | has been and remains an important part of South |
| to eight bunches a year, with each bunch weighing up | | | | American diet. |
| to 6 kilograms. | | | | The secret behind those beautiful Brazilian bodies is |
| For hundreds of years, Brazilians have been using oil | | | | bunched up there in the acai palm tree. |