Sunday, May 28, 2006

Acai





Info is from AcaiRoots
Pronounced "ah-sigh-EE"

Eaten in Brazil for breakfast

Acai (açaí) is a palm tree that grows in the North of Brazil.

It is known by the native people (indigenas) as "içá-çai", which means "fruit that cries".

The legend of the fruit that cries:

There was an Amazon Indian girl named Iaca, whose father was the tribal chief. His tribe had grown so large that there wasn't enough food to go around. So, the chief decreed that all newborn babies must be killed. When Iaca, his own daughter, bore a child, the chief had his decree carried out. Iaca mourned her baby’s death alone in her hut for days. Then she thought she heard a baby crying. When she went outside in search of the baby, she saw a palm tree shooting up from the earth, covered in fruit. Full of despair, she lay down under the tree and died. The next day, the tribe found Iaca's body under the new tree. The tree's fruit satisfied their hunger and renewed their energy, and the chief lifted his harsh decree, declaring that the fruit would be named after his daughter ("Acai" is "Iaca" spelled backwards). With abundant food for all, the tribe grew and flourished.


There seems to be many health benefits from the Amazon fruit. Check them out Here

It's an Oprah website but it's got a good summary of what I've found online : )

It's late late late. Talk to you all tomorrow !

5 comments:

KleoPatra said...

Wow, that is an interesting story about the origin of acai. Thanks, Teddy!

I have never tried it...

I went to SIPZ on Sunday night w/my beau and thought of you while we were there, and thought of how I hope you will stop there next time you head down this way!! You won't be disappointed. I still haven't gotten over to Mama Testa's but I plan on it this week!

Hope your Memorial Day weekend is going fab. We've had great weather so far!!

Anonymous said...

What a sad story....your shake looks delicious though....

BFN, G :)

funwithyourfood said...

Kleo Never been to SIPZ but i've heard about it. It's in Clairmont?
I should head out that way sometime soon. hhmm I'll have to consult the with bf haha : )
we just got back from IKEA. now it's time to assemble our new coffee table!
Have a good memorial day

Sad story but great eats : )

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

great info on acai -- all new to me. thanks! :o)

Dori said...

If the acai fruit is in the baskets, it looks like blueberries. Thanks for the info and the hads up on
veggin' out.