Acai, also known as “açaí,” is popular in the United States for its berries and juice. It comes from an Amazonian palm tree, Euterpe oleracea. Acai is grown in Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela. It needs a constantly hot temperature and a humid, tropical climate. It’s imported as a frozen puree or powder because of the delicacy of the fruit.

In 2023, the National Institutes of Health stated that acai possesses both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. To quote from the report, “Due to its medicinal properties and the absence of undesirable effects, acai shows a promising future in health promotion and disease prevention.”