Trendy Chicago Magazine

What is Açaí?

Grown and harvested in the Amazonian Rainforest,
Açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is the exotic-tasting,
Brazilian national fruit considered to be the healthiest
food on the planet. Packed with nutrients, this dark
purple berry contains 57% more antioxidants than
pomegranates or blueberries, and 30 times more
heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine.

Oprah and renowned dermatologist/best-selling
author Dr. Nicholas Perricone recently selected Açaí
as their "#1 Superfood." And they're not the only
ones. The Today Show hailed Açaí as "the hottest
thing in food right now," and The Washington Post
called it "the new pomegranate."

In addition to its amazing antioxidant properties, Açaí
is packed with robust doses of vitamins C and E,
calcium, dietary fiber, protein, Omega 3s, and an
almost perfect amino acid complex. Accoding to Dr.
Perricone, Açaí's powerful nutrients fight premature
aging, promote cardiovascular and digestive health,
and are essential to proper muscle contraction and
regeneration.

Açaí grows atop Amazonian palm trees, which locals
call the "trees of life" and to which they attribute
mystical powers of vitality. Açaí tastes like an exotic
blend of dark berries. The majority of the fruit consists
of the seed, but the edible skin is the nutrient intensive
portion of the fruit. To harvest the skin, it is scraped
off the seed, then blended with water into a pulp
which is pasteurized and clarified to preserve its
nutrients and flavor.

The growing popularity and awareness of Açaí has
led to more sustainable farming, financial support for
growers, and protection for the biodiversity of the
Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. To further these
causes, VeeV donates $1 for each bottle sold to its
charitable partner's Sambazon's Sustainable Açaí
Project. This fund directly benefits the families and
farming communities who live in the rainforest and
harvest the Açaí berries, and ensures that Açaí is
"wild harvested" to preserve the surrounding flora
and fauna and protect biodiversity. It also promotes
organic certification and sustainable agro-forestry
management techniques.

VeeV has catapulted Açaí from the Brazilian Amazon
Rainforest to the martini glasses of the country's most
influential tastemakers. Since its launch in L.A. in May
2007, VeeV has rolled out in San Francisco, San
Diego, Miami, Chicago, New York City, and Las Vegas
and made its Dallas debut in January 2009.