If you haven't heard about the acai berry before, or the history behind this amazing fruit, let me tell you a little bit about it. This small, purple fruit is packed with nutrition and can give your body what it needs to stay happy and healthy. A healthy body can give you more energy and make life more enjoyable overall. While the fruit has been known about in the Amazon rainforest for hundreds of years, it wasn't fully discovered by North America, or the rest of the world, until recently. Before the world knew about it, there was a long period where knowledge of the super fruit spread slowly.

Early Acai Uses

The acai tree (a variety of small palm) was discovered by early tribes to have a wonderful, small berry. While they didn't know why at the time, they realized that those who ate the berry were less susceptible to sickness and generally led better lives. Word of this soon spread and all the locals began consuming the purple berry as part of their daily diet. Generations passed, with knowledge of the acai being passed down decade after decade through history.

Finally, in the 1950s and 1960s, the small acai berry began to be studied. Scientists knew from the locals that the berry held a lot of health benefits, but they began to break down exactly why this was. From finding that is a powerful form of antioxidants, to the fact that it is full of essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and even unsaturated fat (the good kind), the world slowly began to realize that this small berry was one of the most powerful fruits found anywhere on the plant.

Acai Moves North

In the 1970s and 1980s, with better refrigeration, the berry began to be shipped (fresh) to Rio, Brazil. There, in the heat of the city, the berry quickly became a favored frozen treat. Acai smoothies also became very popular through these decades. From health food to a way of life for the population of Rio, many uses for acai were discovered during these years to the benefit of the residents. The fruit became a daily staple for many people during this period.

As mentioned, an interest in the acai was formed at first with the health conscious people of the area - who already were very active being so close to the ocean. Soon, though, whether it was because of the taste of the frozen or smoothie treats or their health benefits, more and more people were eating it. Gradually, word of acai began to spread to other places as people moved from Rio and missed fresh acai as a part of their daily lives.

Acai Berry Today

Once word of the powerful benefits (and good taste) of the acai berry began to spread, there was no stopping it. Throughout the 1990s, you may have heard something about a miraculous super fruit from the Amazon here and there. But then, in just recent years, news about acai literally exploded, with demand for the acai berry and acai products ballooning.

Today, you can still purchase the benefits of the acai berry online in pill or juice form. There are still many inferior products out there, but the consumer is becoming more educated about acai and how it should be prepared for use. This is one of the reasons why we have reviewed some of the products on our homepage.

If you do your research and know enough about acai to base your decision on, then chances are you're going to find a lot of deals out there that can bring the power of the acai home to you. What has been a favorite food among natives in the Amazon for hundreds of years is now available to you in concentrated form. That's the wonder of the modern world. And almost as amazing as the acai itself is the history behind it.