Açaí: benefits and curiosities of the fashionable ‘superfruit’

It is a little bigger than a blueberry, but boasts a high power energizing and antioxidant. He açaí is one of Superfoods more in vogue, both for its flavor and color and for its beneficial properties for health.

A fruit native to Brazil that has gone from being a well-kept secret among the indigenous populations of South America to being a cult ingredient among lovers of physical activity and healthy food. Today in Summum, We explain how to get up to speed with açaí. Of course, in the most original and gourmet.

To start: What is açaí?

Açaí is a wild fruit native to Brazil. It looks similar to a blueberry, only slightly larger. It grows on palm trees grouped in clusters and for centuries it has been the best kept secret among the indigenous populations of South America. In the nineties, athletes and fitness enthusiasts were captivated by a peculiarity of açaí that is especially useful if you practice physical activity: the ability to give energy and provide resistance. The fame of açaí began to bounce from one side of the pond to the other, now reaching its peak, at the height of superfoods. By the way, the correct way to pronounce it is “assaì”.

Why you should start including it in your diet

Have you ever heard of the sistema ORAC? It is an index that evaluates and classifies foods according to their antioxidant capacity, that is, according to their ability to counteract oxidation caused by free radicals (responsible, among other things, for accelerating aging, weakening the immune system and promoting cardiovascular diseases). Well. The acai It is one of the best “ranked” foods in the ORAC system, boasting a value of 185, higher than blueberries (32) and black grapes (11). East antioxidant power It is due to the high concentration of phenols and anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for its dark blue color.

In addition, it provides us with omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids and contains a high amount of beta-sterol, which fight against cholesterol. Finally, açaí is rich in amino acids, minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus), provitamin A and vitamin E, it has a good fiber content and is low in sugar.

It is not surprising that its restorative use goes back to the first Amazonian tribes and that it is a TOP food among the surfing community. Nor is it surprising that it has recently become one of the most successful superfoods.

Ideas to enjoy it

El açaí it deteriorates very quickly losing its nutrients and its pulp represents 10-15% of the fruit, the rest is seed. For this reason, açaí, unlike others Superfoods, it is usually consumed minimally processed, being able to buy pulp or lyophilized powder (that is, previously frozen, dehydrated and then transformed into powder).

Either way, açaí can sneak into your diet like a fruit or, why not, one more dressing more enriching breakfast, snack and brunch. It can be taken in smoothies, buns and cakes, natural juices, smoothies, yogurts, salads and in its most attractive and fashionable form: the açaí bowl. Already you have no excuses so as not to give in to the fruit of the moment!

The “açaí bowl”: the beginning of the phenomenon that shakes Instagram

Each filtering bag smoothie bowls are super smoothies of fruits and vegetables that are eaten with a spoon (their texture is thicker compared to a traditional smoothie) and are served with a countless fruit toppings, nuts, granola, seeds, cereals and others. They have been the kings of Instragram for some time now and their taste is perfectly on par with their superb looks.

Carissa Bonham, cookbook author Deliciosos Smoothie Bowls, says that the roots of this stellar success must be found right in the Brazilian açaí bowls, a traditional dish from the Amazon that little by little became popular in the large cities of the country in the sixties. And from there to the whole world, the açaí bowl is a trend within the trend of los smoothie bowls. Of course, in that jump to fame, the original recipe underwent some changes: salty ingredients like fish and prawns gave way to sweet toppings and toppings.

Beleeza: the perfect açaí bowl, at the bar or at home

Beleeza is a Hispanic-Brazilian company whose mission is to make known the benefits of açaí in Spain. Apart from distributing and selling organic açaí and all the other ingredients to prepare your own bowl at home (granola, chia, pumpkin seeds), Beleeza has two açaí bars in Madrid.

Here this powerful breakfast (or snack) is covered in a thousand different ways: with a yogurt or other fruit base and with fresh fruit toppings, chocolate granola, grated coconut and honey. You can choose between various combinations of the letter or also “Sew to measure” your own exclusive bowl. They have a home delivery service.

RawCoco: make a stop and take care of your health (also with açaí)

Healthy dishes to enjoy at any time of the day and in an environment that is pure natural luxury. After consolidating in Giijón, Madrid and Valencia, RawCoco opens a new premises in Madrid, in the exclusive area of ​​Almagro, once again focusing its offer on the healthy food.

Smoothies, cold pressed juices, bowls, toast, wrap and, at meal times, tailor-made market plates in which the customer combines plant-based, proteins and sauces to their liking. Obviously there are options suitable for celiacs, vegetarians and vegans.

Highly recommended the RawCoco Salmon Toast, with sourdough bread, cream cheese and fresh herbs, smoked salmon and dill (you can add poached egg and it is even better) and, of course, the acai smoothie bowl with strawberry, banana, blueberry, coconut, almond milk and homemade granola. The perfect and trendy brunch.

Matcha and açaí: from the hand of Teashop comes the most exclusive superté

They are not teas, they are supertés and come to Spain from the hand of Tea Shop. In addition to the traditional ingredients, these infusions (one of the novelties of the season) have the odd ingredient in fashion, boasting superpowers.

There are four options, all very attractive. Magic Mango, green tea with Moringa and mango, Ushuaia Ginger Citrus, green tea with mate, matcha and ginger and Goji Secrets, with hibiscus and Goji berries. The Matcha Latte Acai, the most exclusive superté variety, it mixes two great antioxidants such as matcha tea and açaí. It is prepared with milk or vegetable drink or with yogurt, granola and fruit. 100 gr of this tea rubs the 16 euros.

Flax & Kale: açaí in a frozen smoothie version

Located in Barcelona, Flax & Kale is a restaurant of healthy flexitarian cuisine which combines plant foods (80% of its offer) with blue fish (20%).

In your breakfast menu, we find a whole section dedicated to healthy bowls. Among them, the acai bowl, with açaí, banana, Goji berries, cashew drink and Brazil chestnut crumble, among other ingredients, and the Acaítella bowl with raw cocoa and homemade hazelnut cream. On their drinks menu, we find a healthy frozen smoothie with a very promising name: The Rejuvenator. It has orange juice, mango, pineapple, strawberries, açaí, Goji berries, chia, agave and agave syrup.

Coraçaí: premium açaí pulp

Coraçaí is a company of Hispanic-Brazilian heart that produces and markets pure açaí pulp, the freshest and most intense way to enjoy this fruit. The açaí pulp is extracted with the addition of water. This extraction process has to be done within 24-48 hours of collection of the fruit, to save all its precious nutrients.

There are three qualities of pure pulp: popular 9%, medium 12% and special 14%. The percentage refers to the concentration of fruit with respect to the filtered water used for the extraction of the pulp.

Coraçaí It claims to be the only company in Europe that markets pure açaí pulp of “premium” quality, that is, the 14% special pulp, also known in Brazil as açaí grosso. There is only açaí or açaí and guarana bio. All products are natural (without sugars, preservatives, flavorings and colorings), vegan and gluten-free. 400 gr containers cost between 5 and 6 euros and they can be purchased in organic stores and department stores.

Where to buy acai powder

With premises in several Spanish cities, Nugget and Grain It is one of the most pleasant, modern and warm places to buy in bulk. Spices, rice, legumes, cereals and a host of other delicatessens. From these stores you always get to know (and eat) something new. If you are looking for where to buy acai eco powder in bulk, Papita y Grano is the ideal place.

Another option is to buy it already packaged in Regional Co., Alicante company with almost a century of history that sells, among other ingredients, some of the most fashionable superfoods. spirulina, chlorella, maca, camu camu, chia seeds, cocoa beans, baobab pulp, coconut sugar and, of course, açaí. Its price, 14 euros.