On a trip to Brazil, açaí na tigela, the Brazilian name for the açaí bowl, is a must. In Arraial do Cabo, we discovered for the first time “Frutos de Goiás“, a Brazilian chain that offers it in its natural version, without additives or glucose and fructose syrup or guarana.

But let’s start from the beginning… What is açaí? It’s a plant from the palm family that only grows in the Amazon, and its fruit is a purplish berry. It’s considered a ‘superfood’ due to its nutritional capabilities, and it has the highest concentration of antioxidants in the world, about 15 times higher than black grapes. In Brazil, l’açaí na tigela is a meal substitute or a substantial and energetic breakfast or snack. Due to the berry’s delicacy, fresh açaí is not available, but it can be found as frozen pulp. The difference with the açaí bowl, its American version that is very popular especially in California, is that this one mixes açaí pulp with banana and milk, preferably plant-based, while in Brazil, banana and milk are optional. There are endless versions all with fresh fruit and granola.

Here you can find the recipe for the Açaí bowl, as the powder is easier to find in Italy.