All the Hype about Acai Bowls

On this page discover everything you want to know about Acai Bowls and Acai.

Acai Bowl Master will explain:

what acai is
how to pronounce acai
where to buy your acai bowl and frozen acai puree near you.
nutritional info and possible benefits
our own original recipes
the best blenders to use
most important the secret on how to make your own acai bowl creamy but firm (you should be able to stand a spoon up in it)

What is Acai You Ask

The name Acai is actually derived from the Acai berry which is the basis for an Acai Bowl. The acai berry grows in hanging clusters on an acai palm tree.

Commercial Acai is made in to a pulp which is frozen or as a powder form. Acai bowls have found their way into our diet as a breakfast or lunch option proving very popular.

The Acai palm tree is native to Central and South America, a large majority of which are grown in the Amazon rainforests.

The Correct Pronunciation for Acai

But first let’s sound out the correct pronunciation.

ACAI is pronounced ah – sigh – ee not to be confused with ah- sah- ee that’s a Japanese beer – Asahi.

So, what is an Acai Bowl?

Who doesn’t love the delicious freshness of an acai bowl?

There are many different varieties of Acai bowls but most are made by blending frozen acai puree or acai powder mixed with frozen blueberries, and banana, with a splash of apple juice to create a thick smoothie type bowl.

Granola is usually placed on the bottom of the bowl with the acai mixture placed on top. An assortment of fruit, nuts, coconut and yoghurt can be added as a topping.

There are many versions with all being presented as a stunning visual, almost too pretty to eat!

Haven’t tried one yet? Where is the best acai bowl near me?

So many reasons to love Acai Bowls, tag us your local favourite so we can share! @acaibowlmaster

Are Acai Bowls all they are Hyped up to be?

In order to reply to the question really depends which hype is being referred to….. the healthy option hype or just tastes dam good hype!

While acai bowls have been touted as a healthy food choice some dining out options have a lot of unhealthy extras added.

So stick to the original version if its on offer, better still make your own at home! The main point here is that once you’ve tried a well made acai bowl its probably a surety that you will be returning for more!

We loved them so much we decided to start making them ourselves …….much healthier versions.

More to follow on our fav Acai bowl recipe ideas later.

Breaking down the Nutritional value of Acai and Acai Bowls

Commercially prepared acai bowls are known to contain anything between 15-50 grams of sugar, depending which version you opt for, which is quite a lot.

Therefore, preference is given to the acai berry pulp in its unsweetened version when referring to the nutritional benefits it may provide.

Like all berries, the acai berry is antioxidant rich although when measuring up against blueberries, acai berries come out on top.

When measuring the antioxidant content of food an ORAC score is given. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.

One hundred grams of frozen acai pulp has an ORAC score of 15,405 compared to its blueberry counterpart coming in with a score of 4,669 according to healthline.com

Nutrient dense and also high in fibre, your colon will thank you for it!

Acai berries are unusual in that as a fruit they contain healthy fats and low sugar content as well as trace minerals and anthocyanins.

Anthocyanin is the main plant compound giving the acai berry its dark purple colour that also acts as a powerful antioxidant.

Some markers have shown acai may lower cholesterol levels, other early studies point to acai being valuable in suppressing the spread of cancer cells but more research needs to be undertaken.

Acai Benefits

With acai in bulk only available as a freeze dried powder or frozen acai puree, to reap the benefits of the acai berry outlined above, find a way to make it work as part of a healthy acai bowl a few times a week.

Here are some of the acai bowl benefits:

They are rich in antioxidants, that may protect your cells against free radicals. Free radicals may contribute to the development of heart disease, cancer and diseases.
They are high in fibre, keeping you fuller for longer and your digestive system will thank you for it.
They are nutrient dense, full of vitamins
By making them at home with the ingredients available in the freezer, you can make a healthier option – add some chopped spinach, you won’t taste it!
They are suitable for vegans, just substitute dairy for coconut yoghurt

If you are a fan of eating them out, once or twice a week won’t hurt you but remember that these fancy acai bowls generally have a lot of added sugar!

The Perfect Acai Bowl Recipe

Create your own basic acai bowl recipe at home with these ingredients:

Frozen acai puree – 1 block, break up in the wrapper first
Frozen chopped ripe banana – a handful
1 whole apple cored and chopped
Frozen blueberries 3/4 cup
Baby spinach leaves a handful (optional)

Blending Method

Add to the blender in the following order unfrozen to frozen – smallest to largest. This allows the ingredients to blend without using liquid.

Whole apple chopped
Baby Spinach (optional)
Blueberries
Broken up acai
Frozen Banana

Topps and Bottoms

For the base off the bowl add some unsweetened granola or fruit free toasted muesli.
For the topping place a dollop of unsweetened vanilla coconut yoghurt and whatever you have on hand…chopped nuts, fresh dates, coconut, thinly sliced apple or pear, more blueberries, raspberries, kiwifruit, cacao pods, goji berries. A drizzle of bush honey over the top for the fancies!

The Crucial Method to a Great, not Sloppy Acai Bowl Recipe!

If you missed the blending method above, we are giving it to you again

If you have a great blender with a Tamper this will serve up the best acai bowl.

If you have a regular blender it may be difficult to blend and you may need to add a splash of liquid such as almond milk or coconut water.

“The order of what you place in the blender counts towards a successful Acai Bowl mixture!”

Add to your blender in the following order:

Chopped apple (when this starts to blend it naturally squeezes out the juice to make blending easier)
Spinach (optional)
Blueberries
Broken acai puree
Bananas

Once all ingredients are added start the blender. You will have to use the tamper as a mulch as you blend, scraping down the sides if necessary(while blender is off obviously!)

Getting this method right is the difference between an acai bowl and a typical smoothie bowl!

A smoothie bowl is more sloppy and usually has yoghurt added along with different varieties such as: pitaya, blended fruits with nut butter, avocado and kale for example.