Acerola, a not-so-common fruit
It is true that in France, acerola is not such a typical fruit. Few people who consume it on a daily basis know the nutritional value and incredible vitamin C content of this Barbados fruit. Fortunately, Kusmi is here to help you discover acerola, a superfruit with incredible virtues and effects on health.
Where does acerola, the “Barbados cherry” come from?
Acerola is a shrub native to tropical areas of the Caribbean. It produces a juicy and tangy fruit also called “Barbados cherry”. It has been consumed for millennia by the Amazonian Indians for its effects and properties on the body.
The fruit is harvested from July to December, a period during which its consumption is best, as acerola is very fragile.
The taste of acerola
If acerola berries have much more than vitamin C than an orange, what about the taste? Like the cherry, acerola has juicy flesh and a naturally more tart taste.
The benefits of Acerola
Like the goji berries, acerola is a “super” ingredient nutritionally interesting, particularly thanks to its vitamin C content.
Acerola, a fruit rich in vitamin C
Acerola berries are fruits that are a source of natural vitamin C. These little red berries are extremely rich in vitamin C. Almost 30 to 40 times more than an orange! Due to its richness in vitamin C, the health benefits of acerola are numerous.
Read also: Everything you need to know about vitamin C
- Thanks to its vitamin C content, acerola contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system. To boost your immune system and your health, there is nothing like vitamin C.
- The vitamin C present in acerola is also known for its antioxidant action. Just like vitamin E, selenium or even zinc, it has antioxidant properties very interesting which could fight against free radicals and has a real effect against premature aging of cells.
- The vitamin C present in acerola would also help fight against winter sluggishness and promote vitality and tone. Enough to give you energy and reduce fatigue!
What if we told you that even the body needs a helping hand from time to time? It is sometimes necessary to provide external help when the body or mind is tired in order to stay fit and healthy. Essential to our balance, it is important and even recommended to supplement with vitamin C all year round, particularly through fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin C has multiple functions in our body. By activating our natural defenses, vitamin C brings a feeling of well-being to our body. To benefit from the benefits of vitamin C, it is important to provide our body with a sufficient quantity. How ? Mainly thanks to food!
Read also: green tea: a powerful antioxidant
How to consume acerola?
Like everything “superfood”, acerola cannot be cooked if you want to retain the good nutrients of this fruit. And preferably choose organic, your health will thank you!
You can take advantage of benefits and virtues of acerola by consuming it:
At breakfast
In fruit salad, you can eat fresh acerola. Be careful because it has a very short shelf life: 48 hours. Most often, we find acerola in the form of juice or fruit powder. You can make your own vitamin juice, for example. Alternatively, eat acerola berries whole in your bowl of muesli or porridge, just as you would cherries. Finally, to vary the pleasures, acerola can be integrated into fruit jams to bring a little originality to traditional recipes.
Recipe for 100% vitamin-rich acerola porridge:
- For a successful porridge: over low heat, mix one portion of oatmeal with 2 portions of water (or milk) for more creaminess.
- Add a teaspoon of chia seeds.
- For those with a sweet tooth: add a teaspoon of peanut butter.
- Serve in a bowl and add your red fruits and your acerola.
- For a superfood bonus: add as you wish goji berries for its slightly sweet taste.
- To be enjoyed during a vitamin tea break.
Acerola is also the major ingredient in our Organic Immune Defense Ritual, a 100% vitamin-rich organic green tea enriched with acerola.
With Organic immune defenses ritual, we added well-being to your morning ritual. When a simple tea break is so beneficial: how can you refuse?
Organic Immune Defense Ritual, it is a organic green tea enriched with acerola and flavored with orange, blackcurrant and tropical fruits. 3 minutes of infusion, to boost your daily vitamin C intake and stimulate your immune system. Bring pleasure, health and organic together? Kusmi did it!
Why organic tea?
To combine pleasure and health, trust natural and organic above all. This is why our Ritual based on vitamin C enriched with acerola is composed of a organic green tea. At Kusmi, we attach great importance to our sourcing: we promote a organic tea respectful of the environment and producers, under the benevolent patronage of WWF France. We only source from producing countries without make no compromise on quality of our mixtures, with the guideline: organic in order to guarantee respect for your health. Today, the base of our teas and infusions is organic and our flavors are natural. And as organic calls for organic, we advise you to always pay attention to the origin and production conditions of the products you consume!