I had one of the most delicious, creamy, dreamy, nourishing, energizing, nutrient-packed breakfasts this morning: acai-coconut deam bowl! Of course, acai bowls come in many shapes and sizes and I’ve had some really delicious ones at various farmers markets and cafes around the island.
But my favorite is the one I created this morning! It was the perfect synergy of fruity/creamy/rich and almost ecstatic! I’ve been known to get very excited about fruits and vegetables before, but I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about acai!
By now most people have had acai. Many people purchase it in frozen packets today, and add to smoothies. But the açaí palm is actually a species of palm tree that is cultivated for its fruit and excellent hearts of palm, and is quite common in South American countries like Peru, Belize and Brazil.
The acai palm is grown in various places around Hawaii, so those of us here have local access. But the growing demand for acai in North America relies primarily on large agribusiness in the Amazon region. As always with products sourced in this manner, I think it is important to support companies that agree to fair trade, responsible harvesting, and promote respect for indigenous people. Most acai crops are heavily sprayed with pesticides, and there is some concern about methods of cultivation in terms of treatment of indigenous people along the Amazon.
These issues are extremely important to me because wellness for ourselves doesn’t ever have to come at the expense of harming people, animals or the rainforests. If you buy the frozen acai packs, you might want to check into Sambazon, which has a certified organic program and employs standards of fair trade.
NOW FOR THE RECIPE!
1/2 cup acai (2 packets if you are using frozen)
2 large frozen bananas
1/2 cup pineapple
1 tangerine
1/4 cup fresh coconut meat
1/4 cup coconut water
1 scoop brown rice protein powder
1 tsp vanilla powder
TOPPING: Coconut flakes, chopped hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, raspberries, and banana slices.
DIRECTIONS: Mix all ingredients together in your blender until smooth. Scoop into a bowl (or a freshly cut coconut!) and top with the delicious toppings. Stir the toppings in a little bit and enjoy!
