For those of you who love Acai, I ordered it on Sambazon web site. I received it very quickly in 3 days, shipped in dry ice. It takes 2 pouches to make the Rio bowl, so about $3.50 not bad a price. It takes about 2 min to prepare and it's the real deal. In Rio, it's also made from frozen pack. Acai is supposed to contain more antioxidants than blue berries. So I highly recommend Sambazon and am happy to get a taste of Brasil while being so far away.

Athos,

Any reco on the flavor? The website has a few choices. Which one stood out (or is it just a matter of personal taste?). thanks LB

There's 2 acai, original with guarana, pure which is acai without guarana, I bought the original with guarana.
I used a Rio bowl recipe online, with apple juice, banana and granola bar.

i love the stuff, actually if you guys have jamba juice by your house they have introduced a new acai shake that is awesome, i definitely recommend it. the promenently make reference in the store to how popular it is in brazil, etc. the shake is good and very healthy.

the Acai supercharger is the name

from their website:

A mighty mix of acai juice blend, soymilk, raspberry sherbet, strawberries, blueberries, and ice. With vitamin C, E, and omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, plus the antioxidant wallop of acai for the fight against free radicals. And guarana adds caffeine and theophylline to three servings of fruit, which work together for a pick-me-up that keeps on going.

* 40 mg caffeine in every 24 oz. Original size smoothie.

Ingredients: acai juice blend, soymilk, raspberry sherbet, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, ice.

they go on to say:
Acai
Brazilian superfruit acai (ah-sah-yee) has long been renowned in its native Amazon for its amazing restorative properties. Besides being delicious, it is a source of antioxidants, omega-6 and -9 fatty acids, vitamin C and fiber. It’s traditionally infused with guarana, which supplies natural caffeine and the mild stimulant theophylline, for a lasting lift.

(Message edited by gr8ter on March 26, 2005)

Damn, I love açai, I eat it every day in Rio. I turned a friend on to it, and he bought it from Sambazan, and now his whole office is eating the frozen pouches like popcicles during the day - productivity is way up he says ;)

What has the big caffeine kick - the açai or the guarana?

Business2 magazine (www.business2.com) ran a little story on the stuff - and it said it's real healthy. I did a search a while back, thinking there is too much sugar/calories in this stuff to be so good for you... and I found this info (on Sambazon site maybe?):

Analysis reveals that Acai pulp contains:

A remarkable concentration of antioxidants, to help combat premature aging, with 10-30 times the anthocyanins (purple colored antioxidants) of red wine.

A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols, to help promote cardiovascular system and digestive tract health.

An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

Utilizing a traditional Brazilian recipe, Sambazon Original Acai is infused with pure Brazilian guarana extract. (One serving of Sambazon Original Acai contains less caffeine than a cup of decaf coffee)

Guarana is a revitalizing seed that has been used by Amazonian tribal people for centuries. The seed is ground into a powder and commonly consumed before battle and extended hunting trips. Guarana is esteemed throughout the world for its ability to sustain strength and heighten awareness.

The result of this special blend is:

-Sustained energy and strength

-Heightened sense of awareness and improved mental focus

-A massive attack on vitality-robbing free radicals

Acai is a dense source of particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins (red-blue phenols with potent antioxidant properties)

-Anthocyanins are a group of phytochemicals in red wine thought to contribute to the French paradox, i.e. France has one of the lowest incidences of heart disease of any westernized society despite a prevalence of smoking and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol (5). Acai pulp contains 10-30 times the anthocyanins of red wine per equal volume (1).

-The primary anthocyanin in Açai is cyanidin-3 glucoside (1). Cyanidin-3-glucoside has been found to be 3.5 times stronger than Trolox (vitamin E analogue) and the predominate anthocyanin found in red wine (malvadin-3-glucoside) in an ORAC analysis (measure of antioxidant capacity) (11).

-Anthocyanins have been found to “exhibit numerous potential therapeutic effects including treatment of diabetic retinopathy and fibrocystic disease of the breast in human” (11). “Other potential physiological effects of anthocyanins include radiation-protective, chemoprotective, vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory agents” (11).

-The fatty acid ratio of Acai resembles that of olive oil, which is thought to be a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease in
Mediterranean populations (1, 5).

-60 percent Oleic (Omega 9) a monounsaturated, essential fatty acid, helps lower LDL (harmful cholesterol) while maintaining HDL (beneficial cholesterol) levels (5).

-12 percent Linoleic (Omega 6) a polyunsaturated, essential fatty acid, has been found to lower both LDL and HDL levels (5).

-Fatty acids aid in the transport and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins i.e. Vitamins A, E, D, and K (3).

-Acai contains valuable phytosterols

-Sterols are components of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol (7).

-Sterols are currently being used to treat symptoms associated with BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) (6).

-Preliminary evidence suggests that beta-sitosterol (the predominant sterol in Acai) may help prevent immune weakness resulting from severe physical stress (7).

-Acai is a good source of fiber

-3.5 grams of dietary fiber in one serving of Sambazon Acai.

-Fiber promotes a healthy digestive system. Low fiber in the American diet is thought to be a contributing factor to the high incidence of cancer and heart disease. Soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol; insoluble fibers are thought to help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers (5).

-Acai mixed with Guarana

-Guarana has been found to increase metabolism, physical endurance, stamina and memory in laboratory mice (8). Guarana contains theobromine, a caffeine-like compound thought to contribute to the euphoric feeling experienced by some people when consuming chocolate (9).

-Guarana is noted as being effective in the treatment of headaches and cold. Other uses include appetite suppression, pain relief, as well as an aid to smoking cessation (9).



Works Cited

1. Rogez H. Acai: Preparo, Composiçao, e Melhormento da Converaçao. Belem:EDUFPA; 2000.

2. Seager S, Slabaugh M. Chemistry for Today: General Organic and Biochemistry-4th ed. California.

3. Wardlaw G, Insel P. Perspectives in Nutrition – 2nd ed. Saint Louis: Masby – Year Book, Inc; 1990.

4. Sillberberg S. Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of matter and Change – 2nd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill; 2000. 1086p.

5. Cook-Fuller C, editor. Annual Editions Nutrition 00/01 – 12th ed. Connecticut: Dushkin/McGraw Hill; 2000.

6. Berges B, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinicaltrial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet 345: 1529–1532, 1995.

7. Pegel K. The importance of sitosterol and sitosterolin in human and animal nutrition. S African J Science. 93, 263–268, 1997.

8. Miura T, et al. Effect of guarana on exercise in normal and epinephrine-induced glycogenolytic mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998 Jun;21(6):646-8.

9. Henman AR. Guaraná (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis): Ecological and social perspectives on an economic plant of the central Amazon basin. J Ethnopharmacol, 1982 Nov.

10 Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press,1985, 349

11. Hong W, Cao G, Prior P: Oxygan Radical Absorbance Capacity of Anthocyanins. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45, 304-309, 1997

Guarana is the caffeine kick, it is used in Brasil as aphrodisiac.

Acai is great stuff, and is my "secret to surviving Rio". A bowl of it every morning, along with another glass of it before nightime craziness. Pure or with a banana, all those mixes they make at the juice bars go too far overboard. Here in the States, you can get Sambazon at any Fresh Fields (East Coast natural food supermarket, also known as Whole Foods Market) at about $1 a bag. Or just order online. Sambazon is the only importer that I know of. I usually stretch it out some with Orange Juice.

Yes, Gurana gives it the caffein e kick, but by itself its got enough "goodness" to pick you right up after a night of partying. Another trick for ingesting mega-doses of caffeine is chimmarao (also called Erva Mate), but as Bwana Dik has already discovered, it's an acquired taste. Besides you can only find it from Curitiba on south. But you can get "Mate Leao" tea just about anywhere, you drink it just like iced tea, and it's got almost as much kick as real Erva Mate. Look for it in the juice bars.

BS