Acai comes in different forms depending on how they are processed and manufactured. Here at Smoof, we have 2 types of Acai that might require some preparation for consumption. Both Acai powder and Acai pulp can be blended into your favourite smoothie or bowls. But the real question remains, which is better?
Manufacturing process:
Once Acai reaches the manufacturing plant, the Acai palm can be processed into either the powder or pulps form. These processes have to be done quickly due to the perishable nature.
Acai powder can be achieved by either spray or freeze drying which removes moisture content and grinds them into fine powder, whereas the pulp version is achieved by blending the flesh of the Acai palm and deep freezing them.
Storage:
The frozen Acai pulps require a freezer of -18 degrees to store compared to the Acai powder that does not require any special storage. Do keep the Acai powder away from direct sunlight.
Shelf Life:
Both the Acai pulps and Acai powder have a shelf life of at least 2 years. Some Acai pulps might have a shelf life of 3 years.
Preparation of Acai Bowl:
Both the Acai pulps and Acai powder can be used to create your own Acai bowl. The preparation process for the Acai pulps requires slightly more steps to remove it from the freezer, thawing, cutting the packs before blending compared to the Acai powder which only requires you to scoop and blend.
Also, there might be blending issue when using Acai pulps if the blender is not a powerful blender such as Vitamix or Blendtec. A tamper might also be required for the best blending experience.
That being said, the Acai pulps does not strictly require blending, you may just thaw, leave it in a bowl and consume directly.
Consistency:
This is where the difference might be a little more obvious. It all boils down to the ingredients being used during the blending process. However, if we were to compare the same ingredients used for blending, the frozen Acai pulps will most of the time give you a better consistency.
The general rule to get a better consistency for your Acai bowl will be to use as many frozen fruits and pulps with lesser liquid. That will help to achieve the best results.
Taste:
In terms of taste, it is definitely subjective for everyone as it might not be something you expect. According to us however, the Acai pulps(unsweetened version) gave a more earthy taste compared to the Acai powder that has a slight sourness to it.
If you are used to having some sweetness in your Acai bowl, then it will be good to blend either the pulps or powder with some natural sweeteners such as honey or banana. The Acai pulps with Guarana might be another choice for you where the sweetness is presence without any other ingredients.
Nutritional Value:
Doing the research on this topic gave quite a few different answers and takes. The articles that i glanced heavily depended on whether they are selling only the pulps or powder to begin with, which might be rather biased.
After diving in deeper into this subject, we have found out that the powder is more nutrient dense if we compare them pound-for-pound. This is because, the powder is dehydrated/moisture removed which makes it more nutrient densed.
If we compare them dollar-for-dollar then it might turn out to be around the same as the Acai powder is significantly more expensive.
Conclusion:
After reading this comparison, which Acai will be your more preferred choice?
Both the Acai pulp & powder have their own pros & cons but they are all incredibly nutritious due to the nature of Acai. So don't be too stressed out about deciding on the right choice for your daily needs.