Acai HistoryThe acai palm has been a part of Amazonian culture and traditions since before the beginning of recorded history. It's fruit, the acai berry, has been consumed for centuries. Acai history includes accounts of rituals where special Amazonian Indian masks were worn to celebrate the harvest of of a palm fruit.
A Brazilian legend says that the benefits of acai were long ago discovered by a tribe deep within the Amazon rain forest. The tribe had been experiencing a long period of drought. The king declared that any child born would have to be killed to preserve what little food supply remained. When the king's daughter gave birth, her baby too was killed. She was so distraught that she ran away into the forest. She finally collapsed due to sheer exhaustion and later awoke to find herself underneath an acai palm. She looked up and saw all the fruit. She ate the berries until she was able to regain her strength and return to her tribe. Upon her return she share the berries with her people. With a new source of food the tribe was able to flourish. Recorded history shows evidence of the acai berry as far back as 1768. Captain James Cook was on a voyage of discovery aboard the ship H.M.S. Endeavor. Three botanists were on the ship to describe and record the plant and animal life encountered on the journey.
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