It was a couple years ago that I noticed this Berry Acai Bowl. My first reaction was here’s a new twist to smoothie. At that time, I thought it was another fad that will die down eventually. But it never did. I saw it featured on TV. More and more are writing about it. Now restaurants are serving it too and they are not cheap.

What is an Acai Bowl?

An acai bowl is a Brazilian snack made of frozen mashed acai palm fruit. Acai palm fruit resembles a black berry or grape. Acai berries grow on acai palm trees in the Amazon rainforest. When mashed they form a dark purple paste. It is popular throughout Brazil and sold in kiosks along the beach and juice bars. It is served as a smoothie in a glass or bowl and topped with different fruits or granola.

I finally got intrigued by the Instagram images I see that are bursting in colors. Beautiful and quite appetizing creations that were popping up everywhere. In fact, I have this Berry Acai Bowl as one of my screensavers on my phone. What attracted me the most was the colorful combinations of fruits in a bowl. I love colors. Just like salad if it is colorful I don’t feel forced eating it.

Acai Powder or Puree

Then one day I researched where I can get the acai purple powder or puree. Luckily, I found it at Trader Joes and Wholefoods. I was expecting it to be expensive but it was reasonable. So I finally dive in just like the others. I made my very own healthy, creamy and attractive Berry Acai Bowl. I’ve never had it before and to my surprise it was delicious.

It is so easy to make. Place all ingredients in the blender and blend well till smooth. I never added sugar. The banana added sweetness to the smoothie.

When I was working I used to bring smoothie or yogurt to work. In a small glass, I alternated yogurt and fruits sprinkled with granola and raisins. My co-workers were always commenting how good it looked. Then one day they saw me with this creamy berry acai bowl. One never hesitated to asked if she can try it. She was delighted. I can tell she liked it. She said, it was very refreshing especially for breakfast.

If you’ve never tried a thick and creamy smoothie in a bowl – it is time to make one. If you are lazy, you can get it at one of the smoothie places around you between $7 to $12. Believe me, it is way cheaper if you make it plus it is so easy to make.

What are the benefits of Acai Berries?

Per Healthline.com acai berries are super fruits that are loaded with nutrition. Here are some major health benefits from acai berries.

They contain healthy fats and low in sugar.
Acai is rich in antioxidants. At least 3x higher than blueberries.
It could help improve cholesterol levels.
Base on studies, they believe that acai might have a role in treating cancer in the future.
It could help protect the brain from damage due to inflammation and oxidation.

Where to get an Acai fruit?

Acai fruits have a very short shelf life. They are exported in the form of purees, powders and juices. Trader Joes sell the puree type while Wholefoods sell the powder type. If none of these stores are close to you, you can also get the acai powder or acai puree from Amazon.

Now that you know that acai bowl is beneficial to your health try my recipe today. Make your own homemade Creamy Berry Acai Bowl and top it with any fruits or nuts you desire. It is delicious and refreshing.