Acai: The Little Berry That Could

This morning after checking the unreal surf at Pipeline, our group of eight cruised to one of the locals favorite spots. You could easily miss the small brown shack, unless you knew where to go. The Bob Marley blasting and bright menu painted on the outside wall invite you to order anything and everything made with Acai.

Pronounced (ah-sigh-ee), this potent little purple berry has become the latest wonder fruit among top atheletes and health conscious people. Harvested from the Amazon Rainforest, Acai berries are an amazing source of antioxidants, those vital omega fatty acids (3-6-9!), plus fiber and protein. With more antioxidants then pomegranates and blueberries, it’s touted as one of the healthiest fruits in the world!

The story begins when two surfers traveling through Brazil were introduced to the fruit by locals and began to spread the word. Knowing how amazing it made them feel, the two started exporting the unknown fruit. It caught on quickly with pro surfers around the world, including those that surf the infamous wave riding mecca that is the North Shore of Oahu.

Everywhere you go over here you’ll see people either slurping it in smoothies or spooning it from a huge bowl. Digging into a bowl of pureed Acai has become a must before any surf session.

In the states, Acai is definitely catching on as the new super food. Cafes that blend this awesome berry are popping up in big cities up and down the California coast like wild fire.

You’ll usually find it in a hole in the wall smoothie bar or even in a grocery store cooler. Look for the brand Sambazon, which is the largest suppliers of organic, fair trade Acai. This eco-conscious, rainforest protector of a company makes a huge variety of bottled smoothies, smoothie packets for on the go, and supplements.
My first taste of this sweet berry was in San Diego, CA in a random smoothie bar. I didn’t really think much of it until this last week when I was able to eat it on a more regular basis.

My favorite way to savor all that acai goodness is for breakfast. Here’s the rundown on the Rio Bowl (yummmm…):

Toss 2/3rd’s of a large banana in the blender. Add 2 packs of original acai and 3-4 oz. of apple juice or soy milk. Blend thick and pour into a bowl. Top it with organic granola, sliced banana and a drizzle of honey. The perfect breakfast!!
I ate about four of these at least. Love em’…

Check out Sambazon.com for more recipes (including margaritas and vegan bowls!). All of their amazing products are available online as well.