Acai is also a major export of Brazil with the U.S. being the leading importer. Pigments in the berry serve as coloring agents in the food, beverage and cosmetic industries, and the powdered fruit is used as a dietary supplement and is an ingredient in functional foods.
The fruit is also used locally in Brazil to prepare a porridge called mingau, which typically combines acai fruit pulp, oats, nut milk and a variety of toppings like coconut flakes or cacao nibs. Westerners may recognize this culinary creation as the “acai bowl” made popular by trendy eateries and cooking magazines in recent years.
