The short answer… Brazil.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc-Hb4kM5J8

Acai berries grow in the Amazon rainforest and nowhere else. And while a banana grown in South American can make it safely to the United States ready to be eaten, acai berries can’t be imported.

They simply spoil too quickly – even faster than strawberries – with a shelf life of just 24 hrs once harvested.

That’s why in the U.S. and most other countries, you’ll have to get your acai berries in juice, pill, capsule, or frozen pulp form.

But I’ve been told that it’s well worth the visit to Brazil to get your hands on the berry fresh.  I had a friend visit recently and he almost didn’t come back, he enjoyed it so much.

Fresh Acai Berries – Why Can’t We Get Them is a post from: Acai Berry

What are acai berries?

The scientific name for acai is Euterpe Oleracea. The fruits themselves are small and round and dark purple in color. They look a little bit like grapes but are smaller and darker. Acai berries do not have very much pulp and they have large seeds. They can often be found as an ingredient in candies, ice cream, energy drinks, high-end juices, granola bars, and a variety of nutritional supplements.

Where does acai come from?

The original source of acai berries is deep in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Now Brazilian farmers are planting large acai plantations on the outskirts of the Amazon to meet the ever-growing demand for this amazing little fruit.

What are the health benefits of acai?
- Enhanced energy and stamina
- Improved digestion
- Greater mental focus and clarity
- Better sleep
- Jam packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, and other good stuff
- More (33 times more) Antocyanine than red wine
- Chock full of fiber
- More antioxidants than any other naturally occurring substance found so far!
- Boost your immune system
- Not much sugar but they still taste great! The taste of acai has been compared to berries mixed with chocolate.

What’s so great about Acai?

The most noteworthy thing about acai berries are their extraordinarily high antioxidant levels- ten times that of blueberries, acai’s nearest rival. Antioxidants can help protect cells from damage by free radicals, unstable molecules that can mutate your DNA causing aging and cancer. The stable antioxidants combine with these unstable free radicals to form stable molecules, thus eliminating the risk posed by the free radicals to your body. Acai is also full of fiber for better digestion, healthy fats (the monounsaturated kind) amino acids, and iron.

Why can’t I just buy acai berries in the produce section?

Fresh acai berries have a very short shelf life from the tie that they are picked – 24 hours, to be exact. After that, they start to lose most of their potency and nutritional value. Because of this, those of us who have the misfortune to live outside of Brazil have to get our magic berries in a processed form.

Acai FAQ – Your Acai Berry Questions Answered is a post from: Acai Berry