Acai Berry Processing - From Tree To Mouth
Acai berry is a fairly new product in North America
. But, it has been eaten in Brazil for hundreds of years. In fact, in some areas of the Amazon rain forest, it is actually an incredible 42% of the total diet.
You have probably heard that Acai berry is one of the most nutritious super foods available. But, if it so great, why are you just hearing about it now. And why can't you just run out to the store and pick up a batch?
Unfortunately, for those of us outside of Brazil, it is not quite that easy. While in the Amazon, they put the fruit on almost everything they eat, you do not quite have that option.
As you know, most fruits start to lose their nutritional value almost as soon as it is picked. Acai berry has the same trait, but its break down is even faster than most.
Acai berry begins to decay within 24 hours after harvest. That means, for the rest of the world, there needs to be a way to preserve the fruit and get it from the tree to your mouth.
Fortunately, there are solutions. Science has found a couple of ways to preserve the berry after harvest. And now people in the Amazon have created an entirely new economy based on providing this miracle food to the rest of us.
This new market has persuaded the locals to harvest and protect these trees as they are a great income source for them. This prevents them from chopping down the palms as firewood and for the hearts.
After harvesting the berry from extremely rural areas in Brazil, the rush is on to get it to the urban centers. This is generally done by boat, on the evening of the day they were picked.
Once the berries have made it into town, they are sold, as they always have been to other Brazilians. But now, they are also purchased by factories that preserve the fruit for transport around the world.
This preservation is done in 2 different ways. The first is with spray drying, where the fruit is heated until dry. It is often mixed with other preservatives and pasteurized before shipping. This is the less expensive of the 2 preservation methods. But, unfortunately it is also known to destroy the nutritional value of the food.
Much of the low cost Acai berry products you see in discount stores are preserved using this method, and are not of much good to you.
The next and much preferred method of preservation is freezing and freeze drying. Because this method does not use the high heat of spray drying, the result is very little to no loss in value.
Once the product is shipped to its final destination, it is packaged in various ways. The dried powder can be put into a capsule, purchased in dry form or added to water to be turned back into juice.
The wonders of Acai berry can finally be experienced outside of Brazil. It is quite a process from the tree to you. But one that is worth it in many ways, from the economy in the rain forests, to the health benefits for your family.
But make sure when you purchase your Acai berry products that they are of the frozen or freeze dried variety. If it doesn't say in the packaging or literature, it is probably spray dried since it is cheaper.
Learn for yourself what the people of the Amazon rain forest have known for years. You are what you eat, and one of the best foods out there is Acai Berry.
by: Dorota Antosik
How to find the best acne treatment Neutrogena On The Spot Acne Treatment - The Right Acne Treatmet For You Impact Of Acne Fighting Acne is Easy With These Hints 7 Natural Ways Of Acne Treatment Interested in Learning How to Treat Eczema For Good? Scalp Acne - How To Treat And Prevent It Acai Berry Select - What Are The Weight Loss Benefit Of Acai Berry Select? About Acne Vulgaris The Extreme Benefits Of The Acai Berry Advice about acne breakouts The Dietary Cure For Acne Benefits Of The Acai Berry Powder