On The Move - Amazon Breakfast
by Yu Shing Ting
MidWeek theweekend; June 3, 2005

I have a new breakfast of choice - acai (ah-sagh-ee). Actually, I could have it for lunch or dinner too, and it's a great before-work-out treat. And I'm not the only one hooked on acai. Lost stars Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly and Dominic Monaghan have been spotted at Lanikai Juice for their daily acai bowls. Opra lists acai as one of the top 10 superfoods for age-defying beauty. And pro surfers Rob Machado, Pat O'Connell, Talor Knox and Luke Egan highly recommend it. Calling acai "the greatest energy food ever." Acai is an organic berry that grows wild in the Brazilian Amazon. Considered to be one of the top super foods in the world, acai is antioxidant rich and tastes like a blend ofrich berries with a hint of chocolate.

I was introduced to acai during a visit to my favorite smoothie shop, Lanikai Juice, three months ago. While waiting in line to place my order. I noticed all three customers before me had ordered something called an acai bowl. I asked about it and the customer in front of me answered for the person behind the counter, saying that it's just wonderful and delicious and how I must try it. So I ordered one, and now, that's all I get from the popular Kailua juice bar. At Lanikai Juice, acai can be ordered as a smoothie (a blend of Sambazon acai with guarana, strawberries, blueberries, banana and apple juice) or as a bowl (same as the smoothie but topped with organic granola and sliced bananas).

There's also the Acai Traditional available as a smoothie or bowl (with double acai, banana and apple juice), and the Acai Extravaganza bowl (double acai, banana, strawberries, apple juice, fresh berries and grated coconut).

"About three years ago, we started offering this acai as an antioxidant option," says Pablo Gonzalez, owner of Lanikai Juice. "People tried it and they realized that the guarana inside makes this combination not only good for antioxidants, but also a great energizer. You can feel this energizing boost right away. Also, it tastes good, so all of this makes the acai unique. Little by little, people started talking about it, and now we have customers from different areas of the island who come for our acai."

According to Sambazon, the first company to export acai from Brazil, acai is packed with antioxidants, has a rare synergy of essential fatty acids, fiber and amino acids. Traditionally, acai is enjoyed in a bowl, blended thick and topped with granola and bananas. It is also served as ice cream, smoothies or popsicles.

"For many years the Brazilians made use of the acai like a fruit." adds Gonzalez. "Until recently, it could only be found along the beaches of Brazil. But what happened is this company, Sambazon, has brought it to the U.S. and in return. They're helping the whole economy there. They've hired many people, from picking the acai in the trees, to harvesting, to bringing it to the night market to sell to the companies.

"So when you buy acai, you're keeping the cycle of the harvest going, and you're bringing money back to the Amazon." Sambazon has partnerships with four cooperatives in the Amazon which are dedicated to fair-trade pricing and sustainable harvest through a forest management program. Learn more about acai at www.sambazon.com