Açaí – Hawai‘i’s Favorite Superfruit

Açaí – Hawai‘i’s Favorite Superfruit

Today, açaí bowls are a ubiquitous part of Hawai‘i’s food culture, with dozens of shops offering a variety of different flavors and toppings. Consistently one of the best selling items in our cafes, they are a popular choice for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon snack, and are enjoyed by health-conscious consumers of all ages.

Here, we'll tell you a little more about:

  • what this superfruit is
  • its health benefits
  • how it got to Hawaii
  • and the kinds of bowls you can enjoy in our cafes! 

What is açaí? 

The açaí berry is a small, round fruit native to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. At first sight, açaí berries don’t seem edible as they are small, hard, and have large pits. In order for them to be edible, they have to be soaked in water and the fruit pulp has to be removed from the pit. 

Açaí has been a staple food in the region for generations and has a long history of use in indigenous cuisine and traditional medicine. Known to be the Brazilian “superfruit”, this dark purple fruit encompasses many benefits.

Acai berries

Benefits of Açaí

  1. Packed with nutrients: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, chromium, zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, +more!
  2. Loaded with antioxidants: important for neutralizing the damaging effects of radicals that cause diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
  3. Proved to boost brain function and energy: proven to protect your brain from the inflammation and oxidation that negatively affect memory and learning as you age

 

Açaí’s Journey to the Islands

Have you ever wondered how the trend of açaí bowls made its way to Hawai‘i? In the late 1990s, a group of surfers from California discovered açaí bowls while traveling in Brazil. They were captivated by the delicious, healthy snack, and began bringing açaí berries back to the United States. 

As the popularity of açaí grew, entrepreneurs in Hawai‘i began to take notice. One of the early pioneers of açaí in Hawai‘i was Tamara Rigney, who founded Basik Acai in 2010. Rigney was a fitness enthusiast who had been consuming açaí bowls for years, and saw an opportunity to bring the healthy snack to Hawai‘i. Basik Acai quickly became popular among locals and tourists alike, and inspired a wave of similar shops across the islands.

Here at Honolulu Coffee, we offer three different types of açaí bowls:

Acai Bowl group from Honolulu Coffee

The Classic |  açaí, granola, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas

The Hawaiian |  açaí, granola, bananas, coconut flakes, almond butter

The Antioxidant |  açaí, granola, bananas, blueberries, cacao nibs


Do you want to get creative? Feel free to customize your own bowl when you visit us!

See Our Locations

Order Ahead Online

 

Mahalo!


Older post Newer post

From the blog

Iced Kalita and brewing supplies on a kitchen counter

Brew Guide: Iced Kalita Wave 185

From the conventional and classic pourover, see how you can modify the Kalita to a "flash brewed" iced coffee!

Bag of Cherry Wave coffee blend on the beach

Catch the Cherry Wave | NEW Limited Time Coffee

We're celebrating surf culture and the start of our coffee harvesting season. Read all about Cherry Wave, our new limited...

Honolulu Coffee's new springtime seasonal menu with the following items: Sweet Potato Haupia Bar, Hibiscus Spritzer, Blueberry Corn Muffin, Guava Bread, and Lavender Latte

Blooming with a New Tropical Spring Menu

From floral-infused brews and delectable pastries that capture the essence of a morning breeze, check out the blossoming beauty and...

Iced Kalita and brewing supplies on a kitchen counter

Brew Guide: Iced Kalita Wave 185

From the conventional and classic pourover, see how you can modify the Kalita to a "flash brewed" iced coffee!
Bag of Cherry Wave coffee blend on the beach

Catch the Cherry Wave | NEW Limited Time Coffee

We're celebrating surf culture and the start of our coffee harvesting season. Read all about Cherry Wave, our new limited time coffee blend!
Honolulu Coffee's new springtime seasonal menu with the following items: Sweet Potato Haupia Bar, Hibiscus Spritzer, Blueberry Corn Muffin, Guava Bread, and Lavender Latte

Blooming with a New Tropical Spring Menu

From floral-infused brews and delectable pastries that capture the essence of a morning breeze, check out the blossoming beauty and flavors that Hawai‘i has to offer.