Açaí has become a global phenomenon. From large coffee chains to extensive franchises, menus now offer açaí bowls and smoothies. CEO and co-founder of Tropical Açaí, Renata Prates has been in the business for over 8 years, and since bringing her açaí brand to the United States, she has noticed a troubling trend in the food industry. Not all açaí is created equal. To make it more palatable for consumers, pure açaí, which has an earthy flavor compared to other berries, undergoes processing, and that’s where things go off the rails.
Tropical Açaí prides itself on having few ingredients, so earlier this year, it sent samples of five different açaí brands, including its own, to an independent food testing laboratory to see how it performed. The results were revealing.
“In the U.S., most people buy their açaí in ‘scoopable’ form, easily used in bowls and smoothies,” said Prates. To cut costs, many açaí companies have added excessive amounts of fillers, sugars, and artificial and natural colorings. Consumers ordering a seemingly healthy smoothie or bowl may unknowingly be consuming nothing more than sugar-laden ice cream with little of the known antioxidant benefits of açaí. “As açaí is purchased by restaurants in large quantities, customers rarely see the exact ingredients in their açaí bowl.”
In a research study conducted by Eurofins SF Analytical Laboratories on these five açaí brands, Tropical Açaí had the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) count, often significantly higher. According to Scientific American, ORAC is a laboratory test that measures the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of a food.
So, what should be in your açaí? The first ingredient should naturally be açaí. “If there are eight or more ingredients listed, that’s too much,” says Prates, noting that many açaí companies add purple carrot or grape juice to enhance colors. If the açaí served to you is bright pink or purple, that’s a sign that colorings have been added to the product, which should be a deep burgundy color naturally. This rich color also indicates that the product you are consuming is high in antioxidants. Tropical Açaí, for example, prominently lists its five ingredients on its scoopable bucket. In the case of its pure açaí, it has only one – açaí.
Tropical Açaí Wholesale Distributor and Açaí Bulk Supplier is an American company dedicated to improving the world through nutritious and delicious organic açaí berries. It strives to bring delicious, sustainable, and ethically harvested açaí berries.
For more information, visit www.tropicalacai.com