Acai bowls have long been a fixture on Instagram feeds and for good reason. A beautiful breakfast bowl of vibrant deep purple, topped with fresh fruit, granola, goji berries, chia seeds and cacao nibs - perfectly Instagrammable. But what is acai and how does the acai bowl measure up nutritionally?
What is acai?
Acai (ah-sigh-ee) berries are not technically berries but rather a drupe since they contain pits. Still, they’re referred to as berries just to confuse matters! Growing in the Amazonian rainforests on acai palm trees, these fruits have a dark purple colour with a yellow flesh surrounding the seed. When ripe, the delicate berries are destoned, pulped and freeze-dried within 24 hours to retain their nutrient levels.
The taste of acai berries, once transformed into a powder, is like a rich fruity blackberry flavour with chocolate overtones. What’s not to love?
This super berry contains 3 times your daily requirement of manganese which protects the body from oxidative stress. Acai is also a source of vitamin A for nourished skin and immunity.
If you want to start your day with a delicious and nourishing acai bowl, try these 5 easy steps to build your own!
How to build your acai bowl
1. Place 300g of fruit of your choice (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, mango, mixed berries etc.) to a blender.
2. Add 1 tbsp of Naturya Acai powder and 1 large banana to the mixture.
3. Pour in 125ml of plant-based milk or coconut water.
4. Blend until smooth.
5. Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top with more fruit. Fresh berries and sliced banana work well. Then add your choice of toppings to boost your bowl with more nutrients! To finish, sprinkle with Chia Seeds, Goji berries, Goldenberries, White Mulberries, Cacao Nibs or one of our Breakfast Boosts.
That’s it!
Looking for more acai bowl inspiration? Take a look at our recipes below:
