A name for açaí berries. The juice and pulp of açaí fruits, actually drupes of the açaí palm, are frequently used in juice blends, smoothies or soft drinks or to flavour ice creams. In northern Brazil, açaí is traditionally served in gourds called "cuias" with tapioca and, depending on the local preference, mey be consumed in either salted or sweetened form (sugar, rapadura and honey are known to be used in the mix). Açaí has become popular in southern Brazil where it is consumed cold as açaí na tigela. As açaí deteriorates rapidly after harvest, its raw material is generally only available outside the immediate growing region as juice or fruit pulp that has been frozen, dried, or freeze-dried. However, several companies now manufacture juices, health drinks, yoghurts, and sorbets made from açaí berries, often in combination with other fruits.
