Enjoy your Acai at the 2014 Brazilian World Cup
It seems that Brazil is the place to watch. Its economy is thriving, its property market is booming and more and more tourists are choosing to experience its delights than ever before.
Brazil is also home to some of the most healthy and exotic foods available, no more so than the famous Amazon region where the trees of the rainforest simply groan under the weight of hundreds of different types of tropical fruit. Many of these have been discovered to offer significant health benefits and suddenly names such as pupunha, capuau and grumixama are tripping off peoples tongues in juice bars and cafs from North to South. It is the aai berry, though, that is unarguably responsible for the Brazilian health food revolution that is taking not just Brazil but also the US by storm.
Acais health properties are legendary. It has been used for centuries by Brazilians for its ability to enhance physical strength, provide energy and deliver high nutritional content to their diet. The acai fruit is a small purple berry about the size of a blueberry and is derived from the acai palm that is native to the Amazon.
The reputation of this unassuming little berry is now well and truly blooming. Acai is jam-packed full of amino acids, essential omegas, fibers, antioxidants, phytonutrients, anthocyanins and protein, leading it to be hailed as the greatest superfood ever discovered. And if that’s not a compelling enough reputation, it has even been shown in preliminary trials to have the potential to fight cancer cells.
Acais most common incarnation is in juice blends, smoothies and other drinks, made using the nutrient-rich berry pulp. It has also become a highly-popular ice cream flavour. It is so popular that in recent years thousands of dedicated aai ice cream parlours have opened up across the country. Acai na tigela (acai in a bowl) is a popular snack at any time of day, comprising a bowl of acai-based ice cream swathed in fresh fruits, honey and granola and often accompanied by other tropical flavours such as capuau for an extra-special energy kick.
Acai is very effectively preserved in a variety of ways. It has become a popular export in the form of seeds, juice, frozen fruit pulp and dried/freeze-dried formats.
Across the US and Europe, health food stores and the health conscious are waking up to the potential of acai and it is increasingly being used in capsule, pill and powder format for use as a dietary supplement. Its many benefits are certainly compelling ” boosting of immune function, mental focus, energy levels and a healthy digestive tract, not to mention its anti-ageing qualities. It has even earned itself the alternative name of the Brazilian Viagra!
But take it from one who knows, you need to book that flight to Brazil, sample the Brazilian way of life and enjoy your Acai with the warm waters of the Atlantic ocean lapping at your feet.
This piece was written by Ginny Naish the Marketing Director of Property Dreams Brazil, a real estate consultancy based in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. Property Dreams Brazil can provide consultancy services with regard to investment property, land, re-location and real estate marketing. Please visit Property Dreams Brazil for further information on Brazil.
