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Assai Berries grow on a tropical palm tree called the Assai Palm.

The tree grows 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 metres) tall, with leaves up to 10 feet (3 metres) long.

Assai Berries have a very dark purple, almost black, skin. There is very little pulp inside; about 90% of the inside of the berry is taken up by the single large seed in the middle.

The berries aren't eaten fresh out of hand. Instead, they are pressed most often for pulp. The seeds can also be pressed for juice if they are soaked in water first to loose the thin shell on them.

The dark purple juice has a rich flavour, in which some people feel they can also taste tones of chocolate.

Assai Berries have a very short storage life after picking, and don't ship well. Consequently, they go straight from picker to processor.

Brazil produces 85% of the world's supply of Assai pulp. It is also exported from Costa Rica, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.

Cooking Tips
Assai Berry pulp can be used in ice cream, yoghurts, sweets, granola bars, etc. It is also used as a condiment with some savoury dishes.

Nutrition
Assai Berry juice is reputed to have twice the anti-oxidants that blueberries do.

Also called:

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Berries
Akala Berries, Aronia Berries, Assai Berries, Baba Berries, Barberries, Bilberries, Black Gooseberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Buffalo Currants, Bumbleberries, Cape Gooseberries, Cloudberries, Cranberries, Currants, Elderberries, Garden Huckleberries, Gooseberries, Haw Flakes, Hawthorne Berries, Huckleberry, Hudson Bay Currants, Jostaberries, Lingonberries, Mulberries, Otaheite Gooseberry, Raspberries, Red Currants, Saskatoon Berries, Sea Buckthorn, Serendipity Berries, Strawberries, Sunberries, Tayberries, Thimbleberries, Ugni, Waimate Berries, White Currants, Wineberries, Wonderberries, Worcesterberries

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Soft Fruit
Cherries, Grapes

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Fruit
Bananas, Bletting, Candied Fruit, Citrus Fruit, Dried Fruit, Drupes, Hard Fruit, Olives, Rhubarb