As the weather gets warmer, people are swapping their warm cup of soup for a delicious Açaí Bowl. The rise of açaí has taken over popular smoothie chains such as Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie Café and Planet Smoothie, each offering their own unique versions of the frozen, delicious berry. Also located in Downtown Athens, Arden’s Garden serves an Açaí Bowl with an açaí base topped with frozen berries, hemp seeds and peanut butter. On campus at UGA’s Tate Student Center Market, they have a machine that disperses the açaí base but be wary because it will cost you no less than 1$ an oz which could make a decent sized bowl cost at minimum 7$ without your toppings. Each of these options will cost you a lot when you’re searching for a nice cold and delicious treat to beat the heat. The question begs, why is Açaí so expensive?
Açaí is a dark purple berry that originates from the Amazon River Basin in South America and grows on a palm tree within the Amazon. They include vitamins A and C and are a good source of fiber and antioxidants. It has existed for centuries and was harvested by the indigenous people native to the area to supplement their diet. As the popularity of the delicious fruit increases, the unique conditions in which it grows and the extensive labor it takes to harvest makes it expensive for companies to meet global demand at an affordable price.
How can you make an affordable açaí bowl without breaking the bank? Local grocery stores such as Publix or Target sell Sambazon Açaí Smoothie packets for about 6.49$. Each bag contains five Açaí packets so you’re able to make five different bowls. If you factor in the cost of buying toppings like berries,bananas, granola and peanut butter, your price per bowl will be cheaper than if you purchased one bowl from a corporation. You can also purchase a wholesale option and buy a tub of açaí base for about 100$ for 3 gallons worth of açaí. That comes down to about 384 oz of Açaí and the price per oz at this price point is approximately $0.26 cents making this the most affordable option.
While açaí may come with a higher price tag, its rich flavor, nutritional benefits, and versatility make it a treat worth indulging in because everyone deserves to experience the joy of this superfood, one delicious spoonful at a time.