Acai fruit (berry) - Euterpe oleraceaの写真素材

Not known until only a couple of decades ago, the acai fruit, or berry, is a palm fruit of Amazon origin, that is oily, deep purple in colour, and rich in proteins, fibres and some vitamins. One of its best known properties is its antioxidant capacity, often qualifying it as a "super food", or "health-food". It has reached a popular stage with gyms and surfers, and has started to be explored by many as a healthy dietary supplement. The ripe fruit has the plucked from the panicle, and the pulp around the one round seed in the middle, which can comprise between 60-80% of the fruit, has to be removed. The pulp is then ground and mixed with a little bit of water. The locals in the Amazon consume it only fresh, as it oxides quickly, and usually mixed with sugar, but also often with manioc flour. It is an important source of energy for many.