Acerola, an uncommon fruit
It is true that acerola is not such a typical fruit in mainland France. Few people consume it daily or know the nutritional value and incredible vitamin C content of this Barbadian fruit. Fortunately, Kusmi is here to introduce you to acerola, a superfruit with remarkable health benefits and effects.
Where does acerola, the “Barbados cherry”, come from?
Acerola is a shrub native to the tropical regions of the Caribbean. It produces a juicy, tangy fruit also known as the “Barbados cherry”. It has been consumed for millennia by Amazonian Indians for its effects and properties on the body.
The fruit is harvested from July to December, the period when it is best enjoyed, as acerola is very delicate.
The taste of acerola
While acerola berries contain far more vitamin C than an orange, what about their taste? Like cherries, acerola has juicy flesh and a naturally tangier flavour.
The benefits of acerola
Like goji berries, acerola is a nutritionally interesting “super” ingredient, notably 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 small red berries are extremely rich in vitamin C. Almost 30 to 40 times more than an orange! Due to its high vitamin C content, acerola offers many health benefits.
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 defences and health, nothing beats vitamin C.
- The vitamin C found in acerola is also known for its antioxidant action. Like vitamin E, selenium and zinc, it has highly beneficial antioxidant properties that may help fight free radicals and have a real effect against premature cell ageing.
- The vitamin C found in acerola may also help combat winter slumps and promote vitality and energy. 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 support when the body or mind is tired, to stay fit and healthy. Essential to our balance, it is important — and even recommended — to supplement with vitamin C all year round, notably through fruit and vegetables.
Vitamin C has many functions in the body. By activating our natural defences, vitamin C brings a feeling of wellbeing to the body. To benefit from the advantages of vitamin C, it is important to provide the body with a sufficient amount. How? Mainly through food!
Read also: green tea: a powerful antioxidant
How should you consume acerola?
Like any “superfood”, acerola should not be cooked if you want to preserve this fruit’s valuable nutrients. Choose organic where possible — your health will thank you!
You can enjoy the benefits and virtues of acerola by consuming it:
At breakfast
In a fruit salad, you can eat fresh acerola. Take care, as it keeps for only a very short time: 48 hours. Acerola is most often found as juice or fruit powder. You can make your own vitamin-rich juice, for example. Alternatively, eat whole acerola berries in your bowl of muesli or porridge, as you would cherries. Finally, for a change, acerola can be added to fruit jams to bring a touch of originality to traditional recipes.
Recipe for 100% vitamin-rich acerola porridge:
- For successful porridge: over a low heat, mix one portion of oats with 2 portions of water (or milk) for extra 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 berries and acerola.
- For a superfood boost: add goji berries to taste for their slightly sweet flavour.
- Enjoy during a vitamin-rich tea break.
Acerola is also the key ingredient in our organic Immune Defence Ritual, an organic green tea packed with vitamins and enriched with acerola.
With organic Immune Defence Ritual, we have added wellbeing to your morning ritual. When a simple tea break is so beneficial, how could you refuse?
organic Immune Defence Ritual is an organic green tea enriched with acerola and flavoured with orange, blackcurrant and tropical fruits. Brew for 3 minutes to boost your daily vitamin C intake and stimulate your immune system. Making pleasure, health and organic rhyme? Kusmi has done it!
Why choose organic tea?
To combine pleasure and health, trust natural and organic products above all. That is why our vitamin C Ritual enriched with acerola is made with organic green tea. At Kusmi, we attach great importance to sourcing: we favour organic tea that respects the environment and producers, under the benevolent patronage of WWF France. We source only from producing countries, making no compromise on the quality of our blends, guided by organic principles to ensure respect for your health. Today, the base of our teas and infusions is organic, and our flavourings are natural. And as organic calls for organic, we advise you always to pay attention to the origin and production conditions of the products you consume!