Açaí is a berry from the Euterpe palm tree native to the Amazon rainforest, where it thrives in this type of climate and has an abundance of water to flourish.
This palm tree produces anywhere between 4 to 8 stalks that bear multiple strands of berries. With global demand significantly growing in recent decades, it has become a key source of income for rural communities in the region, where the berries are hand-picked by harvesters who climb the trees, sometimes up to 80 feet high.
The açaí pulp, which accounts for only about 15% of the fruit, is a natural antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. It is also rich in minerals like potassium and calcium, vitamin E, healthy fatty acids like omega 6 and 9, and proteins.