Medicinal Benefits of the Acai Berry

A little known berry from the jungles of the Amazon may be the cure-all for many ailments. The amazon jungles stretch over more than 1 billion acres and includes a wealth of plants and fruits that may have medical benefits. The acai berry comes from the Amazon region, native only to Central and South America. Over the last two decades, this small purple berry has caused a sensation in the scientific and medical worlds. Learn about some of the medicinal and culinary uses of this little known miracle berry called the acai.

The acai berry grows on tall palms located in the rain forest. The bunches of dark purple fruits dangle like grapes on a vine until they are ready to be harvested. Each year, the acai berry is harvested only two times. Because the fruit begins to break down immediately upon harvesting it is nearly impossible to store and ship. Regions local to the Amazon may receive over night shipments when the fruit is picked but places like the United States and Canada never get a chance at the fresh fruits. Luckily the fruits are widely used in sports bars, nutritional supplements, desserts, beverages, and in other various forms.

Although the acai berry looks similar to a grape, it is generally much larger. The acai berry is about 1 inch around and most of the fruit is actually seed. Very little fruit is extracted from each berry because it has such a large seed. The taste of the acai is very unique and it is nothing like a grape, but more like a berry. The acai has a very identifiable rich taste, kind of like a mix of dark berries. In the native countries the berries may be served as a drink or as a custard/pudding like dish. Unfortunately, the acai palm has not been successfully introduced to the rest of the world as it prefers a specific climate.