Review: MonaVie Premiere Açai Blends

What is MonaVie Açai Juice and MonaVie Active Gel?

First came wheatgrass. Then pomegranate juice was all the rage. In 2009, açai will probably be the trendy juice in health food stores and smoothie bars. I had the opportunity to try two products by MonaVie, their signature MonaVie Açai Blend juice and MonaVie Active gel. Being a skeptic when it comes to products that make elaborate claims of miracle health benefits, I was curious to see if MonaVie would indeed boost my energy or if it was simply twenty-first century snake oil.

What is Açai?

Açai juice comes from the berries of the Açai Palm of South America. Açai berries look similar to grapes but taste more like blueberries. Because açai berries are very perishable, they were never able to make it onto the world market before they spoiled. MonaVie figured out a way to freeze dry the berries to make them transportable and get the rest of the world on the açai bandwagon.

What Are the Benefits of Açai?

Fans of açai claim that it lowers cholesterol, boosts energy, cures diabetes, helps with weight loss, the typical claims of trendy health supplements. While açai is a fruit, and fruits are essential to a nutritious diet, no studies have been done to prove any of these claims. MonaVie Premiere Açai Blend contains 18 different fruits in their açai juices, so whether or not the açai is included in the blend, it's still a healthy beverage.

MonaVie Premiere Açai Blend Juice - First Impressions

Packaged elegantly in a red wine bottle, MonaVie's signature açai juice blend makes a smart first impression. The label is simple, just a small circular logo with minimal white text. The screw top lid is sealed in shocking purple wrap. It looks appealing; I was expecting something akin to red wine.

MonaVie Premiere Açai Blend Active Gel - First Impressions