History of the Brazilian Acai Berry

            The mysterious berry that was stumbled upon by Brazilians natives now thrives as one of the most sought out super fruits in the all the world. The Acai berry is said to have an earthy flavor profile and tastes like unsweetened chocolate and raspberries mixed into one. They resemble blueberries but were hard as a rock. And when you scratch it underneath the dark purple skin is the yellow pulp. The rest is the fibrous brown stone called the pit. It grows in a weed like form across thousands of acres along the Amazon River delta. It was recorded that the acai berry has been a staple in the native's diets since before recorded history. The ribeirnhos harvest and prepare the acai palm the same way for centuries. They brought down the fruit soak it in water to soften the berry and then rub the skin the flesh down to the core. They would then eat the resulting liquid on fish or game and just by itself.
             "Acai was virtually unknown outside Brazil until ten years ago, when Ryan and Jeremy Black, two brothers from Southern California, and their friend Edmund Nichols began exporting it to the United States (Colapinto). " The 1990's was the decade the acai was found by the hundreds of surfers that flock to the Amazon each year to experience the world renowned surf. While there these surfers happened to stumble upon a small berry that seemed to boost their energy whenever they ate it, but soon after it was learned that it was preferred as a diluted and sweetened liquid. In fact Ryan first tasted acai in December of 1999 with his friend, whom attended University of Colorado. Ryan described his first taste of it as purple Slurpee topped with granola and bananas. And he attested to the "boosting effect " and he did go on to add that it was refreshing to the pallet. Ryan did explain that in one of his visits to Brazil he talk to the head of a acai plantations and saw a map of the Amazon River delta where thousands of farms are spread along two million acres of dense forest.