The pulp of the acai berry has been consumed by the Amazon people for centuries and locals are still consuming the berry in large quantities. In the capital city of Belem near the mouth of the Amazon river, it is estimated that the consumption of acai is around 40,000 litres per day.
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry comes from the Euterpe Oleracea palm tree which occurs through much of the lower stretches of the Amazon basin. The Acalzero tree is considered by many in the region to be the ‘tree of life’, owing to the many products and qualities yielded by the tree for everyday use by the local people of the Amazon region.
The legend and antioxidant use explained in the main article.