Acai berries are the fruits of the acai palm, a species of palm tree native to Central and South America. These berries, which are characterized by their grape-like appearance and bitter taste, have been cherished by the Amazonian natives for centuries due to their incredible medicinal properties. These properties, which are slowly being validated by ongoing studies, are the reason why acai berries – along with other Amazonian foods such as cacao, maca, and camu camu –…
The kakadu plum, also called the gubinge, the billygoat plum, or the murunga, is a flowering plant native to Arnhem Land in northern Australia. Despite their name, the fruits of the kakadu plum plant – simply called kakadu plums – are more closely related to the almond than the plum, and they are unusual for fruits insofar as they remain on the plant after ripening. Australian Aborigines have treasured the plums for thousands of years due to…
Camu camu, also called cacari and camocamo, is a small tree that grows alongside rivers in the western and central Amazon basin in South America. It bears purple, cherry-sized berries which, due to their extreme acidity, are typically sweetened into jams, jellies, and juices, rather than eaten raw. The berries have been utilized for medicinal purposes by Amazonian Indians for centuries, and were often made into hair tonics. Although they are not well-known fruits in…
The purple mangosteen is a tropical tree that is native to Southeast Asia but also grows in South America and other consistently warm climates. It bears sweet, juicy fruits that are characterized by their fragrant white flesh and inedible purple rinds. Mangosteens are universally cherished for their nutritional value, and mangosteen products – including mangosteen juice and powder – have become immensely popular in the Western world. Below is a list of reasons why these strange, peach-sized…
