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| C.A.M.T.A Cooperativa Agrícola Mista de Tomé-Açu |
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| C.A.M.T.A Cooperativa Agrícola Mista de Tomé-Açu |
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Açaí is
popular in Brazil. Recently it is getting popular in the world too. The reason
for the popularity is the rise of healthy and active life. Carioca - people in
Rio de Janeiro - is such people. Here are some tips to introduce the popularity
of açaí among Carioca, one of the most active, cheerful, and energetic people in
the world.
| Among the tropical fruits products
of CAMTA, especially açaí (Euterpe Oleracea) is rapidly gaining its
acknowledgment and popularity in the whole country. Whereas the world
trends have introduced such healthy red foods as Polyphenol wine and
Vitamin A blueberry, açaí is another one to come. Recent rise of
health concern has pushed up the consumption of açaí, and its secret is
the rich and varied nutrition including minerals and vitamins. According
to EMBRAPA in Brazil, açaí contains 3.8g protein, 118mg calcium, and
11.8mg iron. Recent interests are, according to an American dedicate to
açaí, Sambazon, in the rich flavonoids (30 times more than that in wine),
anthocyanins (33 times), and others such as monounsaturated fats and good
dietary fibers with the amount of 16.9g. (Each figure is per 100g). The
positive effect of açaí includes: 1. Lower cholesterol( which is good for the heart disease and high blood pressure), 2. Promote the regeneration of muscles (helps good diet especially for athletes), 3. Promote the body function to intake vitamins, 4. Prevent weakening immune system, and 5. Prevent constipation but not only these. | |||
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Açaí in Pará Açaí is originated in the Brazilian Amazon. It
is already known in the world with the palm called palmit used in salad,
but still the fruits had long been the regional food. The people in the
Amazon region - never be rich up to now- normally eat as a principle food,
together with farinha (dried cassava powder), dried fishes and shrimps.
People in the state of Pará called Paraense nowadays also say this is the
best taste for them. |
   photos: Brazilian magazine, GLOBORULAL. | ||
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Açaí in RJ In contrast, Carioca eats different. A sport called Jujitsu helped the popularity. The most famous jujitsu fighter group, the Gracie Family is the one who loved and introduced açaí in Rio. Now shown on TV program as a good supplement especially for the athletes, açaí went down to the south from the northern Pará state while being loved by many other sports practitioners, including those working for the body-building, those who love waves and surfing, those who love the beach of Rio and beach volley, and never forget hundreds and thousands of joggers and bikers. As such, açaí in Rio is more like juices and desserts, added sugar and syrup, honey and varieties of other fruits. Countless number of juice bars in Rio de Janeiro offer lunch and tea break (may be it is more appropriate saying juice break in Rio, as fruit juice is preferred to tea.), together with sandwiches which contain a volume of vegetables. In the time of world's loving Carnaval, according to the shops there, the sales skyrockets. Açaí Mix, with guarana, helps Cariocas keep singing and dancing till the day breaks. Recently supermarkets and natural food shops sell açaí and ingredients for the açaí drinks, which increased the home use of açaí too. As health concerns further rise and people work out more, it is expected that the popularity of açaí will be more widespread. For those who still do not know açaí, here are some popular examples of açaí in Rio. |
       Photos: An açaí bar BIBI in Rio de Janeiro shows autographs of famous athletes who love its açaí | ||
 Eat together with healthy sandwiches
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AÇAÍ MIX Açaí mix is the most popular type among varieties of açaí drinks in Rio. The well-known guaraná (by the most popular Brazilian pop drink of Guaraná Antarctica) in the shape of syrup is used to sweeten acai. This combination works for staying energetic and awake. Add 3-5 spoons of guaraná syrup to frozen acai, and mix in mixer to make a smoothie. AÇAÍ BOMBA It is more powerful drink than the Açaí mix as the name shows. It adds guaraná, ginseng, catuaba and marapuama all of which have the medicinal effect of strength accordingly, which have been traditionally used in Brazil. Furthermore, Brazil nuts and Cashew nuts are added. The juice bars in Rio, which stay about each block of the city center, have varieties of their own recipes. Some add an egg, other add milk. Powerful bombas stay in all places in Rio. AÇAÍ with GRANOLA Granola, or grain flakes, is frequently served with açaí. The mix of flakes offers good balance of vitamins and also rich fiber, which makes it an adequate partner of açaí. Also added fruit salad, açaí can be colorful and decorative, with further richness in vitamins and fibers. Batidas Batida in Portuguese means beaten, stirred, shaken; things which are beaten/ stirred/ shaken. Varieties of fruits are smashed and mixed in the mixer to make mixed juice. This is batida. Each fan of açaí has different recipe of his/her own. The most popular ones are those of batidas with banana and/or strawberry. It goes well with milk, too. | ||
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