Acai Health Watch

People around the world have recognized for centuries that teas have profound health benefits.  Among other things, they contain the anti-cancer properties of antioxidants and their polyphenols may help with blood flow and circulation.  The primary types of tea are black, green, white and oolong.  All types of teas come from the same type of leaves, but the processing is what makes each type of tea so different in taste, color and health benefits.  In the last few years, nearly all major tea brands have introduced an acai berry tea, but there’s still a large variety of styles to be found within acai tea.  But one benefit shared by most acai berry teas is that it can be prepared both hot and cold.

Well known in high-end hotels and restaurants, Mighty Leaf makes a black acai tea with Chinese black tea and the Brazilian superfood acai to make a fruity but full-bodied brew. The black tea offers a depth that other types of acai berry teas might not.

Celestial Seasonsings offers a Sencha green tea with acai berry fruit and acai puree.  It also contains a variety of other natural ingredients like hibiscus, mango and banana, so if it’s the acai flavor you’re looking for, this might not be your best option.  Otherwise it’s a lovely tropical blend. They also offer an herbal acai berry tea option called Acai Mango Zinger which is caffeine free and has an exotic tang of hibiscus.

The Republic of Tea also has an acai berry green tea but it has a more concentrated acai berry flavor.  It features acai berries and possesses the more customary tart blueberry/grape flavor.

Like the acai berry itself, white tea contains a lot of antioxidants, so a white acai tea is particularly good for health conscious tea drinkers.  The acai white tea from Teavana also contains blueberries and black currant, making for a soothing and unusual treat.  Their Youthberry White Tea is also an energizing tropical blend made with finely ground acai that’s packed with vitamins.

In general, acai teas tend to have a balance of sweet and tart fruit flavors, not unlike other berry teas.  But they sometimes have rich, chocolatey overtones which not all tea drinkers favor.  Acai berry teas are typically not seen as an everyday drink, but an enjoyable occasional tea.  Unlike some acai berry products like juices, acai teas are not usually consumed exclusively for the acai health properties, though it’s an added benefit.  Rather, people tend to enjoy the uniquely tart, interesting combinations found in acai berry teas.

For more information about different types of acai teas, visit:
Mighty Leaf Acai Black Tea
Celestial Seasonings Zinger Tea – Acai Mango, 6 Units / 20 bag
Teavana Youthberry White Tea
Teavana Imperial Acai Blueberry White Tea

We noticed an interesting piece in this month’s Inc. magazine discussing coconut water and its rapidly growing popularity.  Coconut water is the delicious liquid inside unripe coconuts.  It has long been a popular beverage in Central and South America and South Asia, but is now making its way into thousands of North American stores in bottles and cans.

Where does coconut water come from?

When a coconut ripens, the water becomes part of the white meaty interior of the fruit. Will coconut water, with its hydrating properties and nutrients, experience the same frenzy as acai berry juice?  Both Coca Cola and Pepsi have shares in coconut water companies, part of an industry that is valued at $30 million and growing. Vita Coco and Zico are two of today’s most popular brands of coconut water.  Does coconut water offer lasting health benefits or is it just a fad?  Frankly, we think an acai coconut drink combinnation sounds delicious! Check out the full article at Inc.

Here’s our latest acai berry beauty find: You can now enjoy an acai berry spa experience in your own home with Pangea’s Japanese Matcha Tea With Acai and Goji Berry Facial Mask. We’ve discussed quite a few beauty products recently that incorporate the acai berry or acai extract, and this face mask is the lastest one we’ve come across.  It’s a triple threat, containing not only the antioxidant-rich acai extract, but matcha tea and goji berry.

Matcha tea is a powdered green tea that’s full of amino acids, and also packed with antioxidants,including potent catechins. It’s known for its role in Japanese tea ceremonies where it evokes a sense of calmness and serenity, setting a perfect tone for a spa treatment.

The goji berry extract included in this Pangea face mask benefits the skin with its anti-aging, nutrient-filled profile.  It is also becoming known for its anti-inflammatory properties which make it ideal for a skin treatment.

Want to learn more about it?  This facial mast costs around forty dollars for a 2 ounce container and can be found in whole foods markets, large drugstores, and beauty retailers like Sephora.

Bissinger’s Confections of St. Louis has a history dating back hundreds of years to a tradition of European confections.   But stodgy they are not.   While you may find chocolate assortments, chocolate dipped fruit, truffles and caramels, Bissinger’s also has a line of gummy pandas that are exploding with antioxidants.

Take for example, the acai blueberry gummy pandas, one of the first acai confections we’ve seen from a traditional candy maker.  Made with organic ingredients, the blueberry acai gummy pandas are made with dried blueberry, dried acai and organic sugar, among other good things.  It was also awarded “Outstanding Confection” at the 54th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.

Other gummy panda flavors include Goji Guava with Camu Camu, Green Tea and Pomegranate White Tea.

Bissinger’s Gummy Pandas