Acai Palm in the Amazon Rainforest

Quoting Dr. Schauss: "Hundreds of years ago when the Europeans made contact with the New World, certain groups of indigenous populations became extinct within a very short period of time because they lacked resistance to diseases brought over from Europe."

Ancient Acai

"Some populations did survive, and for that reason, their tribes exist to this day.

A number of these groups are found in and around the tributaries and estuaries of the Amazon River. This is an area rich in a tree that bears the fruit called açai."

"The fruit grows biannually in only three species of trees.

This fruit is remarkably rich in a very large range of macronutrients, micronutrients and trace elements.

It has a broad range of essential amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals.

So rich in nutrients is the fruit that it is possible someone could survive on it alone for quite a period of time without showing signs of malnutrition."

"A few years ago I had the opportunity to go to Portugal and visit the anthropology department of a prominent university.

I wanted to find certain watercolors that were drawn by naturalists and botanists who went to the Amazon in the 18th century.

The drawings were in impeccable condition and showed natives holding small, berry-sized fruit in their hands and baskets against a backdrop of local fauna.

This provided hard evidence of its traditional use as a food source by natives over 200 years ago."

The acai berry comes from a palm tree, Euterpe oleracea, with trunks up to 25m high.

From the branches at the top hang ribbon-like leaves. Acai berries hang from these branches in clusters.

The tree grows best in low-lit, swampy areas, such as those in the Brazilian rain forest, but it has been spread by animals throughout the Amazon basin.

Each trunk produces four to eight bunches of berries throughout the year, with the largest fruit production in the dry season.

Acai is not just used for food. The fronds are used to thatch homes and for weaving.

Traditionally acai berries were picked by hand. A tribe's males would shimmy up the tree and cut the branches from the top, where the acai berries were attached.

Now that the acai berry has been discovered, it is a highly coveted crop and is mass harvested.

Acai palm