Freeze-dried acai is a processed form of the nutritious and antioxidant-rich berry, grown in Central and South America. It is considered the most ideal form of processed acai due to its retention of nutritional value, longer shelf life, and preservation without chemicals or preservatives. The berries are flash frozen and dried using pressure, retaining their health-promoting properties.
Freeze-dried acai is a processed form of the berry. Grown in Central and South America, the acai palm produces small, round, purple-black berries whose skin and flesh are edible. The acai berry is considered to be very nutritious and effective as an antioxidant.
Although people usually consume the berry fresh where it is grown, it has a very high fat content of about 30% to 50%, making it very difficult to transport before it goes rancid. The export then requires some form of processing. There are several methods of processing acai berries so they can be transported, including freezing, freeze-drying, spray drying, and juicing. Of these methods, freeze-dried acai is considered the most ideal.
To prepare freeze-dried acai, manufacturers first pick the berries and remove and retain the skin and pulp, while separating the large central seed for other purposes. The berries are then flash frozen within hours of being picked. No heat is used to dry the berries as this often destroys the nutrients. Manufacturers use pressure instead.
Processing of freeze-dried acai takes place within specially designed equipment. Freezing the berries separates the water from the pulp and peel, all in solid form. A vacuum pump is used to lower the chamber pressure below 0.6 atmospheres (ATM). A heating unit then raises the temperature inside the chamber to above 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), causing the ice to change phase.
Due to the low pressure, solid and frozen water undergoes sublimation and converts directly from the solid phase to the gaseous phase. This vapor then escapes from the chamber and condenses. The process is repeated until the acai berries are completely dry.
Freeze-dried acai is considered the ideal form of processed acai as it is believed to retain all of the nutritional value of the fresh berry. Acai berries contain a number of health-promoting properties, including fiber, antioxidants, and omega three, six, and nine fatty acids. They also contain vitamins, minerals and proteins. These are preserved when the berries are frozen.
Other benefits of freeze dried acai are that the product is light in weight and easy to carry. It has a longer shelf life and higher nutrient concentration by weight than fresh berries due to the removal of water content. This method also preserves the berries without chemicals and preservatives, making them acceptable to organic food consumers. Manufacturers usually grind freeze-dried acai into a powder, which is then mixed into liquid or sprinkled on food and consumed or put into capsules.
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