The country’s largest distributor of ‘Acai’ is gearing up for a bumper summer season with over 700,000 Amazonia ‘Acai Bowls’ tipped to be consumed by Australians within the next 12 weeks.
Renowned as one of the most popular and powerful ‘superfoods’ in Australia, Acai has become a staple on menus in cafes, restaurants, juice bars and health food stores and is renowned for its illuminative health benefits.
South East Queensland based, Amazonia Group, is driving the market in Australia with its high quality, nutrient-dense berries that contain more antioxidants than blueberries, boast over 50 essential nutrients, amino acids, fibre, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals – making it a near perfect, energising fruit.
“Aussies are addicted to Acai and they are shining brighter than ever before,” says founder of the Australian-owned company, Dwayne Martens.
“With the weather warming up here in Australia, over 58,000 Acai Bowls are set to fuel locals each week over the next three months, and that figure is set to increase when the mid-Summer season hits”.
Dwayne says the increasing demand for the not-so-humble berry stems from consumers taking their health more seriously and wanting quick, convenient and nutrient-dense meals or snacks.
“A lot of Aussies are awakening to the fact that food is one of the key denominators of overall health and wellbeing,” he said.
“The awareness and education is out there and people are listening and absorbing it. We are what we eat, and when we fuel ourselves with premium whole-foods from nature, our bodies reciprocate and start to glow from the inside out. It works on an emotional level, just as much as a physical one”.
Acai has been recognised as one of the world’s highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) foods. ORAC is a measurement of how well antioxidants can neutralise free radicals. The higher the value, the better the body utilises it to fight those free radicals.
“Acai has more than double the antioxidants of blueberries and nearly ten times that of grapes. These antioxidants, anthocyanins, are particularly good for heart health and preventing the oxidation of cholesterol,” he said.
“It’s amazing to see everyone from mums with kids in the kitchen, to teenagers, surfers and the health conscious enjoying Acai, along with the more mature market also increasingly consuming our products.”
Dwayne says when selecting Acai, consumers ought to be fussy to ensure they are getting the best quality.
“There are different brands of Acai out there and it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best quality, for maximum nutrients and flavour,” he said.
” Amazonia’s berries are a lush, deep purple colour and boast over 50 nutrients, many unique to the rich Amazon soil from which they are harvested. Our berries are frozen within hours of being harvested, as we have a local manufacturing plant onsite in the Amazon.
“Our Acai is Australian Certified Organic and harvested is such a way that all of the goodness is retained in the fruit. I spend a lot of time in the Amazon and the entire team and community are so passionate about our product. We understand and practice the concept of sustainability from source to customer.”
The Amazonia Group was founded in 2008 and currently supplies over 1500 retailers in Australia.
Amazonia Acai is free from GMO, corn syrup, refined sugar, fillers and additives.
Based on the Gold Coast, the company is overseen by Dwayne Martens and business partner, Chris Norden.
Other unique health benefits of Amazonia Acai:
*The fibre found in Amazonia Acai berry skin and pulp can aid digestion. Fibre can help prevent or relieve constipation and may help support a healthy cardiovascular system.
*Amazonia Acai is naturally high in essential fatty acids, having a fatty acid profile similar to olive oil.
The link between essential fatty acids and heart health and a healthy nervous system is well documented.
*Amazonia Acai berries contain amino acids which help promote muscle performance, energy production, endurance and strength.
*Amazonia Acai berries contain as much Vitamin C as blueberries and is also a source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and E. They are also a source of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper. Highly beneficial to emotional health.
*It’s unique properties are also renowned for anti-ageing benefits.