Acai have been known all around to be the superfood for having high antioxidant and fibre while being low in calories. But one question remains, does Acai have high sugar content?
How does Acai taste in it's most pure & original fruit form?
As Acai are high perishable and have to be processed in 72 hours before turning rancid, we do not have the chance to tasting them in it's original form unless you pick it straight from the palms. While most berries taste sweet when ripe, acai berries have an earthy, bitter taste that contains hints of dark chocolate and blackberry.
Nutritional Value of Acai
Now lets take a look at the values of our own Acai pure & unsweetened frozen pulps per 100g:
- 80 calories
- 6g of fat
- 1.5g of saturated fat
- 5g of carbohydrates
- 0g of sugar
- 4g of fibre
- 2g of protein
Compared to our own Acai sorbet per 100g:
- 133 calories
- 1g of fat
- 0.4g of saturated fat
- 17g of carbohydrates
- 16g of sugar
- 1g of fibre
- 0g of protein
The comparison shows the difference mainly on the calories, carbohydrates & sugar. There are definitely higher value of these categories for the sorbet as sugar is added to ensure that it does not taste too bitter. Therefore the sorbets are usually consumed as a treat and the unsweetened pulps are usually more suitable for daily consumption.
Acai bowl sugar level in stores
That will depend on individual brands. Some of the Acai bowls are directly scooped from ready made Acai sorbet for the ease of convenience while others might blend frozen pulps. The sorbet version will definitely come with higher sugar levels than the pulp blended version. Of course the bowls will come with fruits and other drizzles such as peanut/biscoff butters which further contributes to the sugar level.
How to enjoy Acai bowls healthily?
The best way to ensure that you do not consume high sugar levels is to get zero sugar Acai products and making them at home.
Here are some recipes that we have crafted to achieve a delicious yet healthy Acai bowl at home, just ensure the frozen fruits have been frozen overnight for best consistency:
| Acai Bowl using frozen pulps: | Acai Bowl using powder: |
| 1 x 100g Unsweetened Acai Pulp | 1/4 cup Acai Powder |
| 20g Raspberries | 20g Raspberries |
| 30g Blackberries | 30g Blackberries |
| 3 Strawberries | 20g Blueberries |
| 2-3 oz of water/unsweetened milk | 3 Strawberries |
| Add unsweetened Granola, Chia seeds, Dried Coconut, Pumpkin seeds as toppings | 4-6 oz of water/unsweetened milk |
| Add unsweetened Granola, Chia seeds, Dried Coconut, Pumpkin seeds as toppings |
Conclusion
When in doubt, choose unsweetened products. If you like to add some creaminess, instead of frozen banana, add natural unsweetened Greek yoghurt. Remember to look out for the ingredients that you add into your Acai bowl, as well as the portion size per serving.
We have a range of Zero sugar products which is suitable for keto, diabetics or just to maintain your healthy lifestyle. You may always drop us a message for any enquiries!