Where to buy açaí (benefits and extra recipes)

You may have heard wonderful things about this fruit and be looking for where to buy açaí.

How can you get it?

At Baia we have freeze-dried Açaí. A cold dehydration process that preserves 98% of the nutrients in this fruit. Better than frozen pulp and easier to use and store.

You can get the highest-quality açaí sold in Spain here and start enjoying it today.

All you have to do is add 5 g to your favorite smoothie, juice, or yogurt.

And if you want to know more about this Brazilian fruit

In this post we tell you everything and answer any questions you may have.

Açaí, acai, asaí, or acai berry, is the fruit of the palm tree (Euterpe Oleracea) native to the Eastern Amazon, and is found in greatest abundance in the state of Pará, Brazil. It also grows in other Brazilian states such as Amapá, Amazonas and Maranhão, as well as in other countries such as Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela and Bolivia.

Traditionally, the fruit was harvested in the Amazon, large woven baskets were filled, and they were taken in small canoes and large boats to the open markets of the city of Belem.

Among them, the largest is the Ver-o-Peso market, where you can buy açaí and verify its quality. When the boats approach the Ver-o-Peso market, one can hear the vendors shouting “Cow’s blood!” This is how the locals refer to this wine-colored fruit.

The açaí berry measures 10 to 14 mm in diameter and has a color that can range from dark red to deep purple.

The pulp represents only 10% of the fruit, the rest being the seed. Its flavor is a blend of chocolate and berries.

In the acai fruit, the greater part of the fruit corresponds to the seed.

The palms that produce the acai fruit are the acai palms; they can reach more than 25 m in height. Their trunks have a diameter of 9 to 16 cm and usually grow in groups of 4-9, although up to 25 together have been observed.

The acai palms produce flowers and fruit throughout the year, although with periods of greater abundance depending on the region. In general, the highest production occurs from July to December. This makes it possible to have acai pulp and juice throughout the year.

Each palm trunk can produce 4-8 clusters with 4 kg of fruit each. But if the young trunks are cut and other plants growing around them are removed, the palms can produce 10,000-12,000 kg of fruit per year in terra firme forests and up to 15,000 kg in flooded forests.

 Cultivation of açaí palms, from our ORGANIC AÇAÍ.

This Brazilian fruit has become popular for its great properties and benefits, among which the following stand out:

 Açaí has an antioxidant power far superior to that of other berries, red fruits, and foods. You can check its ORAC value, a scale created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to measure oxygen radical absorbance capacity. 

As you can see, the açai fruit has a much higher value than other fruits that are very popular today for their antioxidant power, such as blueberries and raspberries. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

It is no wonder that everyone wants to know where to buy açai...

Açai antioxidants help fight the effects of free radicals, which, if you do not know, are molecules or atoms that have lost an electron and are unstable. They seek stability by stealing an electron from another molecule, turning it, in turn, into a free radical. They cause significant damage by attacking molecules and cell membranes.

The antioxidants that stand out in açai berries are anthocyanins and flavonoids. The former are responsible for the purple, red, and violet color of açai and other fruits such as blueberries and blackberries. They are considered especially useful in the prevention and fight against cancer. In this 2018 meta-analysis , numerous rodent studies found açai to be effective not only in preventing cancer, but also in preventing proliferation and helping in chemotherapy treatment.

The açai fruit is very rich in fiber, so it improves the health of your microbiota and intestines by acting as a prebiotic, maintains stable blood sugar levels, and is an ally against constipation.

Anthocyanins reduce LDL levels (bad cholesterol), but açai berry also has plant sterols that prevent cholesterol absorption and, in addition, polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Plant sterols in freeze-dried açai powder. Source: Journal of Agricultury and Food Chemistry

In this study in an uncontrolled setting, it was shown in 10 subjects that taking 200 g of açai pulp daily reduced blood cholesterol levels, glucose levels, and fasting insulin levels.

 The antioxidants in açaí help different parts of the immune system. Its content of ellagic acid also fights bacteria and viruses, and because it is rich in fiber, it helps cleanse the colon, leaving the immune system more available for other tasks. Its content of electrolytes, trace elements, and vitamins also helps with this support.

Its high potassium content relative to sodium helps eliminate excess fluids.

In a study it was observed that açaí pulp reduces inflammation in brain cells, and in another in vitro study, açaí was shown to promote autophagy and improve brain health.

A study in the journal " Agricultural and Food Chemistry " suggests that the antioxidants in this Brazilian fruit prevent the activity of mast cells, an immune cell that produces histamine and has a pro-inflammatory function.

Another laboratory study concludes that freeze-dried açaí powder is able to inhibit the pro-inflammatory enzymes COX-1 and COX-2.

Its nutritional characteristics already suggest that it is a highly recommended fruit for athletes, but in a 6-week study, it was shown that in junior athletes, the consumption of açaí juice improves plasma antioxidant capacity and serum lipid profile.

In addition, among the simple sugars it contains, glucose stands out, which makes it a good fruit for replenishing muscle glycogen, since fructose only serves to refill liver glycogen, not muscle glycogen.

The açaí fruit may help reduce weight since it contains a large amount of fiber and fatty acids that increase satiety.

These same components, by helping to keep blood sugar levels stable, prevent cravings.

Antioxidants counteract the excess free radicals that can be produced by overexposure to the sun and, specifically, malvidin and cyanidin present in açaí pulp prevent skin damage associated with age.

Its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially omega 9), together with phenols, makes it an ideal fruit to fight atherosclerosis by inhibiting cytokines.

Some of the benefits mentioned above and other new ones give it anticancer properties. Its antioxidants:

• They inhibit the growth of cancer cells (Back in 2007, the University of Pittsburgh discovered that anthocyanins in blackberries are capable of killing cancer cells. And açaí is much richer in anthocyanins... )
• They increase the speed of the cell cycle (cancer cells die faster through apoptosis)
• They reduce the rate at which capillaries that feed tumors are formed (anti-angiogenesis)
• They limit the production of inflammatory compounds that can generate tumors
• They reduce DNA damage 

Açaí in fruit or powder form is natural and safe. It has no known contraindications. In any case, and as we always recommend, if you are pregnant or taking medication, you should always consult your doctor to avoid possible interactions. Although we believe the issue would be more with supplements and extracts that, in addition to açaí, contain other substances.

Outside its endemic region (Brazil), it is almost impossible to get fresh açaí, so it is usually available freeze-dried (the best option) or as juice.

Here we show you the nutritional information for the three possibilities.

Açaí juice in the cultivation of our ORGANIC AÇAÍ

-Proteins: Açaí contains 19 amino acids, including all the essential ones! Yes, this fruit has complete protein. 

-Carbohydrates: Most of the carbohydrates present in açaí are in the form of fiber, which is non-absorbable. Among the sugars, it is worth noting that it has twice as much glucose as fructose.

-Fats: They are the fundamental component of the berry. Among them, the most abundant is the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic, from the omega-9 series, at more than 50%, followed by the saturated fatty acid palmitic at just over 24%. In third place is the linoleic fatty acid from the omega-6 series at 12.5%.

-Fiber: The açaí fruit is very rich in fiber, among which insoluble fiber stands out.

-Vitamins: This berry contains mainly vitamin A (retinol). It also contains a small amount of vitamin C.

-Minerals: Among the minerals, calcium and iron stand out.

-Phytonutrients: Açaí is rich in phytonutrients, which are substances found in plants that are responsible for providing color and flavor, and for protecting them from the sun and the elements of their environment (fungi, animals, periods of drought..). When we consume them, they provide health benefits: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory action...

Among its composition, anthocyanins, tannins, and polyphenolic compounds stand out.

Keep in mind that most of the fruit’s weight corresponds to the seed

Outside Brazil, you cannot get the natural juice of this fruit. Here we show you the nutritional information for a commercial açai juice. As you can see, it does not contain the highly prized fats, so if you are thinking of buying açai in Spain or outside Brazil, buying it in powder form, freeze-dried, remains the best option.

Nutritional information for commercial açai juice 

Freeze-drying is a cold dehydration process, ideal when looking to buy high-quality açai, as it preserves all its properties and characteristics.

It retains: Phytochemical content Enzymatic activity Nutritional value Bioactivity of the fresh fruit Retains: Antioxidant activity Flavor

It also allows the food to be preserved for a long time at room temperature. Here we show you the nutritional information of freeze-dried açai powder from Baïa Food Co.:

Nutritional composition of premium freeze-dried açaí from Baía Food Co., organically grown in Brazil under fair trade conditions.

You can see that the freeze-dried açaí powder retains all the amino acids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids of the fresh fruit. 

Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry  

As you can see, freeze-dried açaí powder retains all the fatty acids of the original fruit. The most abundant fats are monounsaturated fats at 60.6%, among which the most abundant acid is oleic acid at 56.2%. In second place are saturated fats at 26.1%, among which the most abundant is palmitic acid at 24.1%. We have already mentioned that this is the most abundant fatty acid in breast milk. Lastly, in third place are polyunsaturated fats at 13.3%, highlighting linoleic acid from the omega-6 series at 12.5%.

Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

You have already seen all the properties and benefits of this Brazilian fruit. It is trendy and everyone wants to know where to buy açaí.

It is a delicate fruit and cannot be transported and sold fresh outside Brazil.

The best option is to buy it in powder form, dehydrated through a freeze-drying process. However, not all freeze-dried açaí sold has the same quality.

To reduce costs, many companies mix it with other dehydrated fruits such as lime, giving it an acidic taste and causing it to lose its characteristic creamy texture.

At Baía Food Co. we only sell açaí of the highest quality, with an organic certification, originating from Brazil and cultivated under fair trade conditions.

If you live in Spain and are looking for where to buy açaí of quality, you can place your order through our website and it will arrive at your home within 24-48 h.

You will be able to enjoy excellent recipes right away and take advantage of all the benefits of this superfood.

If you live in Madrid, you’re in luck; in addition to the previous option, you also have the possibility to buy açaí in person.

You can place your order with us (91 059 73 42) and visit our offices from 10:00 to 19:00.

You can buy açaí to use it in any fruit-based preparation, smoothie, or shake, but the most popular recipe for consuming this superfood is undoubtedly the açaí bowl.

The açaí bowl recipe consists of mixing açaí powder with plant-based milk, milk, or yogurt, and adding fruit plus some cereal grain and/or seed to taste.

It is an ideal recipe for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

Here we show you one of our favorite açaí bowls:

The açaí berry is very versatile and allows for many other recipes. We are going to show you one of our favorites.

• Açaí popsicles

Ingredients: - 2 squeezed oranges - 1 handful of strawberries - 1 banana - 1 tablespoon of açaí - 1 tablespoon of agave syrup Blend all the ingredients, pour into the molds with the sticks, and wait for them to freeze (minimum 4 hours

Ingredients: - Plain yogurt -10 gr of açaí Blend the ingredients and garnish with berries.

 If you would like another açaí recipe, you can visit our page and our Instagram.

We have tried to tell you everything about this Brazilian fruit. If you have read the post, you are already almost an expert in this superfood and you know where to buy quality açaí.

We would love for you to tell us your favorite recipes and if you have any questions or want to add more information about açaí... WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE COMMENTS!