ah-sah-ee & lots of love
Açaí in Vienna
What is açaí, how do you pronounce it and what does it taste like? Everything about the purple berry from the Amazon, and how we turn it into our organic açaí bowls: four flavours, also to go.
In short
What is açaí?
Açaí (often just spelled acai) is the fruit of the açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea), which grows in the Amazon, mainly in northern Brazil. The berries are about the size of a blueberry, almost black-purple, and hang in large clusters high up in the palm.
Here’s the thing: most of the berry is a hard seed. Only the thin layer of flesh around it is edible, and it spoils very quickly after harvest. That’s why açaí is pulped and frozen right where it’s picked. Outside the Amazon you’ll practically never see fresh açaí berries; in Europe açaí always arrives frozen or dried.
How do you pronounce açaí?
Açaí comes from Brazilian Portuguese and is pronounced “ah-sah-EE”, with the stress on the last syllable. The “ç” (cedilla) sounds like an s. So it’s not “a-kai” and not “a-chai”.
What does açaí taste like?
On its own, açaí tastes berry-like and slightly earthy, with a hint of cocoa and hardly any sweetness. The pulp is dense and almost creamy. Blended and served ice-cold, it becomes a base that’s close to sorbet or soft serve. Add granola, banana and fresh berries and you’ve got an açaí bowl.
From palm to bowl
From the Amazon to Vienna
In the Amazon, açaí has always been a staple food. It’s eaten unsweetened there, often with fish and cassava flour. The sweet, ice-cold version with granola and banana, “açaí na tigela” (açaí in a bowl), became popular with surfers and athletes in Rio de Janeiro and went around the world from there.
- 1
Harvest
The clusters are picked by hand; pickers often climb all the way up to the crown of the palm.
- 2
Pulp
Still in the region, the flesh is separated from the seed, turned into pulp and flash-frozen.
- 3
With us
We blend the organic açaí ice-cold and creamy and top it with granola and fresh fruit, made fresh for you.
Organic açaí at Juice Factory
Four flavours. One love.
Our açaí is organic. Have it as a bowl to stay or in a cup to go, for breakfast, as an afternoon snack or after your workout.
Classic
Açaí, granola, fresh fruit
Peanutbutter
Açaí, peanuts, granola, peanut butter, fresh fruit
Mango
Açaí, granola, mango purée, fresh fruit
Pistachio
Açaí, granola, fresh fruit, pistachio
Add an extra topping or extra pistachio if you like. You’ll also find açaí in our Berry Mary juice (açaí, strawberry, raspberry, orange, apple), and you can add it as an extra to any juice or shake. See the full menu
FAQ
All about açaí
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about açaí. Still got a question? Ask our team in store or write to hallo@juicefactory.at.
What is açaí?
Açaí is the deep purple berry of the açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) from the Amazon. Because it spoils quickly after harvest, it’s pulped and frozen on site. That pulp is the base for açaí bowls and açaí smoothies.
How do you pronounce açaí?
“ah-sah-EE”, with the stress on the last syllable. The “ç” sounds like an s.
Is it acai or açaí?
The correct spelling is açaí, with a cedilla under the c and an accent on the i, as in Brazilian Portuguese. Since those characters are hard to find on a keyboard, many people simply write acai. It’s the same berry either way, pronounced “ah-sah-EE”.
What does açaí taste like?
Berry-like, slightly earthy, with a hint of cocoa and hardly sweet on its own. As a bowl, açaí is ice-cold and creamy, almost like sorbet. The sweetness comes from the fruit, granola and toppings.
What’s the difference between an açaí bowl and a smoothie bowl?
An açaí bowl uses açaí pulp as its base, which makes it deep purple and thicker. A smoothie bowl can have any blended fruit as its base, like our Strawberry Bowl or Mango Bowl.
Is açaí healthy?
Açaí is a fruit, and like other fruit it fits into a varied diet. It’s not a miracle cure, even though it’s often marketed as a “superfood”. We go for organic açaí, fresh fruit and toppings that taste great.
Is açaí vegan?
Açaí itself is entirely plant-based. Whether a flavour is fully vegan depends on the toppings. Just ask in store: our team will tell you what’s in it and happily adjust your bowl.
Can I get açaí to go?
Yes. All four flavours come in a cup to take away. You’ll still need a spoon, though: açaí is too thick for a straw.
Where can I get açaí in Vienna?
At our juice bars in Schottengasse (1010), Spitalgasse (1090) and Währinger Straße (1180). Addresses and opening hours are on our locations page.
Why is açaí always frozen?
Fresh açaí berries spoil within a short time after harvest. To survive the journey from the Amazon, the pulp is frozen right on site. That’s ideal for a bowl, because it’s exactly what makes it so creamy and cold.