açaí: a short and sweet history
The açaí smoothie bowl has become a national sensation. And, rightly so. It’s a tasty and refreshing treat that offers up as much nutrition as it does flavor. But the story of the origin of the super-fruit berry is as interesting as it is good. In this article, we’re looking at açaí: a short and sweet history.
The açaí berry is native to the tropics of South America and has been used by the native Amazonian tribes for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The berries are known to boost the immune system, fight inflammation, fight infections, and to even contribute to heart health. The berry grows in clusters on trees on thousands of acres surrounding the Amazon River delta. The local indigenous peoples, also known as the ribeirhinos (river people), collect the berries and prepare them by soaking them in water and then scrubbing the flesh from the pit by hand. Once the pits are discarded, they eat the açaí pulp in a soup or with fish.
The açaí berry began to make its way to the masses of Brazil in the 1970s as local migrations of indigenous people prompted the fruit to gain popularity further and further away from the Amazon River delta. But at this point, the fruit was still being eaten in traditional forms. So where did the smoothie bowl originate? For that, we have legendary coach and founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Gracie, to thank. After realizing the tremendous health benefits of the fruit (and low sugar content), Gracie included an açaí and banana blend as a staple in his recommended nutrition plan (The Gracie Diet) for his athletes.
Carlos Gracie, Sr.
The açaí bowl was introduced to the United States in the early 2000s thanks to brothers Ryan and Jeremy Black and their friend Edmund Nichols. From SoCal, the trio was on vacation in Brazil in 1999 when they were introduced to the açaí bowl. Being health-conscious athletes themselves, they immediately recognized the potential that the berry had if introduced to the Western masses. And so they formed the company Sambazon and began importing frozen acai to the United States.
Sambazon Founders
Since its introduction to the United States in the early 2000s, it has grown to become a national favorite for its flavor and health benefits. Health cafes coast-to-coast feature smoothie bowls on their menus, and we’re happy to say that the ah-sigh-ee craze is here to stay.