Like the fruits we lovingly unite with raw almonds to make our rapturous Superberry Maqui Camu spread (one devotee has renamed it “Better Than Sex”), the acai berry is a South American superfood rich in nutrients. Pronounced ah-sah-YEE, the deep purple acai berry is lauded for its high antioxidant content and is one of the top 20 foods on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test, which measures the antioxidant capacity of foods. “The acai berry scores quite high,” according to Valencia Porter, MD, of the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, Calif.
These power-packed berries, which grow in tropical regions near the Amazon River, resemble large blueberries and contain a pit similar to stone fruits like peaches and plums. Like the maqui and camu camu berries in our Superberry Maqui Camu, acai berries are bursting with anthocyanins, a potent class of phytonutrients. Not only do acai berries contain high levels of antioxidants, which fight free radicals, but also Omega-3 fatty acids, 19 amino acids, and other nutrients that boost immunity, protect against chronic disease and have anti-aging antioxidants.
Author and Registered Dietician Lauri Boone calls acai berries the “ultimate anti-aging superfood” in her book Powerful Plant-Based Super Foods. As with every ingredient we consider, responsibly source and ultimately include in our gourmet products, we are intrigued by the potential contribution of acai berries to a future JEM creation. And when we do, you can count on yet another purely organic, sustainable and swoon-worthy product to add to your secret stash.
Shop JEM Raw's Superberry Maqui Camu Sprouted Almond Spread.
