WHOLESALE SUPERFOOD INGREDIENTS in the spotlight
AÇAÍ BERRIES organic wild harvested
One of the forerunners in the wave of awareness of Superfruits in the last decade, the Açaí Berry has become widely known as a functional food due to its exceptionally high levels of anthocyanins, giving Açaí one of the highest ORAC (anti-oxidant activity) levels of any fruit. Since it was first exported from South America at the turn of the century the benefits of this Amazonian Superfood are now being enjoyed across the globe.
SUPERFOOD INGREDIENTS açaí product formats
Our wholesale Açaí products, both organic and conventional, are available in the following formats:
Powder Products: Freeze Dried Açaí Berry Powder, Açaí Berry Juice Powders, Açaí Berry Extracts
Liquid Products: Açaí Puree, Açaí Juice Concentrate, Clarified Açaí Juices and Concentrates
Oil Products: Cold Pressed Virgin Açaí Oil, Virgin Açaí Butter
Some further detail on each product format and their possible applications in the Food, Beverage, Nutraceutical and Cosmeceutical sectors is provided below:
Organic Freeze Dried Açaí Powder
There are two species of Açaí used to produce Freeze Dried Açaí Powder, one is Euterpe oleracea that grows mostly in the flooded region of the Amazon, close the the water courses. This is most abundant from the Eastern state of Para in Brazil, close to the mouth of the Amazon river. This species of Açaí has a higher Omega 9 fat content, a vibrant purple colour and a green earthy flavour. The other species of Açaí, Euterpe precatoria, grows in dryer conditions, and is found more abundantly in the Western Amazon region, in Brazil and some neighboring countries such as Bolivia. The Euterpe precatoria Açaí is characterised by good levels of Anthocyanins and overall levels of antioxidants / ORAC. Its fat content is less and its colour is darker, almost black. Organic Freeze Dried Açaí Powder is ideal for nutraceutical applications, for dietary supplements, or any application where a high antioxidant powder is required.
Açaí Juice Powders and Dry Extracts
There are a range of options available made from the Euterpe oleracea species. These are spray dried powders, and are most suitable for beverage applications where solubility is important, or some food applications where heat is going to be applied. Organic options are available.
Organic Açaí Puree and Concentrate
A market standard has been applied to Açaí Puree measured by its solids content, ranging from 9% solids, 12% solids (standard) and 14% solids (premium). Superfood Ingredients is now launching a new option not before available, which is an Açaí Puree Concentrate. This has had some of the fibers and fats removed, along with more of the water content, so that the levels of Anthocyanins are optimised. The Açaí Purees and Açaí Puree Concentrate is ideal for use in smoothies, ice-creams, yoghurts, desserts and liquid supplements.
Organic Clarified Açaí Juices and Concentrates
Açaí naturally has high levels of fibers and fats, but by removing these during a process called clarification, we can produce a juice that is transparent and clear purple in colour. This is the preferred option to beverage manufacturers that want to produce a clear drink and do not want sedimentation or fats present in their end product. Available as Clarified Açaí Juice Single Strength, Double Strength and Concentrate. These are highly functional ingredients with standardised minimum levels of anthocyanins, perfect for manufacturers who would like to make claims about the antioxidant content of their beverages.
Virgin Cold Pressed Açaí Oil and Butter
Superfood Ingredient’s Açaí Oil and Butter is made from natural cold pressed oil, extracted from the pulp of the Açaí berry (Euterpe oleracea). Since the oil is cold pressed and unrefined, it retains the natural complexities and goodness as provided by nature, along with its fresh and natural flavour, colour and aroma. The unique structures found in the oil of the Açaí Berry make this oil and butter of benefit for both food and cosmeceutical applications. Organic Açaí Oil is also available.
SUPERFOOD INGREDIENTS açaí harvesting and production
Protecting the Amazon
Increasingly consumers around the world are looking at their food choices based not only on their nutritional benefits, but also on how these foods are sourced. The beauty of the Açaí Berry is that not only is this a food with an exceptional nutritional content, it also provides so many benefits to the people and area from which it is harvested.
The Açaí palm tree (Euterpe oleracea, Euterpe precatoria and Euterpe edulis) grows natively throughout the Amazon basin and in the case of the E. edulis, also locally known as Juçara or Jussara, also in the Atlantica Rainforest which follows the eastern coast of Brazil. Although the berry has traditionally been an important food source for the inhabitants of the Amazon and more recently throughout Brazil, this tree has been cleared in large stretches of the jungle either because of deforestation for cattle ranching and commercial farming, because of the logging industry, or because of the heart of palm industry. By giving the tree more value to have it kept standing rather than chopped down, the Açaí Berry industry is in effect helping to protect the Amazon rainforest, and at the same time, providing the local communities who wild harvest the fruit an important source of income and a means for sustainable development.
The Açaí Berry is wild harvested from the Amazon and Atlantica Rainforests by local communities and is often cited as a model for the sustainable management of the forest, whereby the fruit provides a viable means for economic development without negatively impacting the natural resource.
Açai in a Multitude of Products
Once harvested the Açaí berry is processed within 24 hours for optimal quality. As 90% of the Açaí berry is comprised by a seed, the first step is depulping, mechanically separating the fruit from the seed. The resulting Puree can be frozen, or it can be further processed to produce concentrated juices, clarified juices, spray dried juice powders and extracts, freeze dried powders, or cold pressed to produce an Açaí Oil. These products have found their way into a plethora of product in the food, beverage, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical sectors world wide.