Berry History

The acai berry was discovered in the vast reason of the Amazon. The Shuar tribes are one of these Amazonian tribes that live there. They have been using the acai berry for medicinal purposes for centuries.

The Shuar medicine men or women are called uwishin works with medicinal plants and knows all the secrets of the rainforests. They collect knowledge of plants to find cures through experiments. It is the job of the uwishin to research and find solutions to illness.

Through this, the acai berry was discovered to have natural antioxidant properties, as well as being a natural cholesterol controller. The tribes of the Amazon knew of these properties and found out that it helped build the immune system, fight infection, protect the heart, and control prostate enlargement. It was also found to be a great energy food.

The berries grow on palm that has a long thin trunk up to 25m high with a group of branches at the top. The berries hang from these branches in clusters. Traditionally they would be picked by hand by the tribe’s men who would climb the trees. Today though, they are massed produced as the berries only have a 24 hour life span.