About the Açaí Berry

Açaí, a 'secret' long known for its energy boosting buzz amongst the bronzed surfers of Copacabana Beach and the beautiful girls from Ipanema, is the 'must have' drink in the juice bars in all the Brazilian hotspots. And it not only boosts energy. Açaí berries are low in calories and contain fibre, calcium and vitamins.

Açaí deals with the unstable molecules known as 'free radicals' which are in pollutants such as exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke. These are not only thought to be harmful but also speed up the ageing process.

The sustainable way in which the Açaí berry is grown means it is providing an alternative industry to the tree-clearing activities of logging and forestry in its native Brazil. Greenpeace rate Açaí berries as 'the most financially viable non-wood forest product from the Amazon's delta'. Harvesting the 20 kilos of berries each year doesn't involve the destruction of the Açaí palm and by adopting sustainable economic development models the crop provides financial security for the indigenous people of the Para province.

Greenpeace is promoting the sustainable credentials of these ingredients.