{"id":615,"date":"2020-05-21T16:25:52","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T06:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/purplefoods.com.au\/?p=615"},"modified":"2020-05-21T16:25:52","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T06:25:52","slug":"whats-in-an-acai-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purplefoods.com.au\/whats-in-an-acai-bowl\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s in an A\u00e7a\u00ed Bowl?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are no hard and fast rules about what you can and can\u2019t put in an acai bowl, but I just want to make one thing clear – there\u2019s a big difference between an <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed <\/span>bowl and a smoothie bowl.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between an <\/b>a\u00e7a\u00ed <\/b>bowl and a smoothie bowl?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The origin of smoothie bowls and a\u00e7a\u00ed bowls are completely different. Smoothies come from Mediterranean and Eastern cultures and are made from pureed fruit mixtures. They became popular in America after electrical appliances such as the refrigerator and blender became available. Smoothies are traditionally drunk from a cup but somewhere along the lines they got transferred to a bowl.\"acai<\/span><\/p>\n

The a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl comes from the Amazon in Brazil, which is where a\u00e7a\u00ed berries are still grown today. A\u00e7a\u00ed berries are bright purple in colour and are a staple part of the local Amazonian diet. The local berry became incredibly popular throughout the rest of Brazil and today is eaten all over the world. People love to put a\u00e7a\u00ed in bowls and smoothies. The a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl differs in texture to a smoothie bowl as it\u2019s more of the consistency of a sorbet. It should be thick, creamy and very cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are a\u00e7a\u00ed bowls so popular?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably seen a ton of photos on Instagram of people eating <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed <\/span>bowls at trendy cafes and it\u2019s not hard to see why when you look at them. <\/span>A\u00e7a\u00ed bowls are usually made up of a variety of different fruits that make them look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They\u2019re a nice alternative to toast or eggs for breakfast and they\u2019re not hard to make.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"frozen<\/p>\n

The <\/b>a\u00e7a\u00ed<\/b> bowl base<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before you start <\/span>making your a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl, a good tip is to leave the bowl in the freezer overnight. It makes your a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl taste just that little bit better and it\u2019s the same logic as when you go to a nice restaurant and they\u2019ve warmed up your plates before they serve you dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

So let\u2019s have a look at what makes up an a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl base. You want the right combination of sweetness but without being overwhelming and having a variety of flavours so it\u2019s not just all fruit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acai<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most important base of any <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl is \u2013 the acai. You can usually find it in the frozen fruit section of your supermarket. If you\u2019re a caf\u00e9 or a restaurant owner, you can find<\/span> wholesale frozen a\u00e7a\u00ed<\/span><\/a> online. You can break it up in the packet by using your hands or a sharp knife to make it easier when you put it in the blender.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nut milk \/ Coconut Water<\/span><\/h3>\n

Depending on your preferences add just enough nut milk or coconut water to make sure your blender cuts through the acai but not too much. We don\u2019t want the end product too runny.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dates<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dates can add more sweetness to an <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl but it can also give it a more full-bodied flavour.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Banana, blueberries and mango<\/span><\/h3>\n

These three fruits can give your <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl a thicker base. Mango can also add a gooey texture to your bowl (which is a good thing!)<\/span><\/p>\n

There are so many other things you can add to your a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl base, we\u2019ve just told you about a few. Experiment with different ingredients until you find the right bowl base for you. When you\u2019re ready, blend all the ingredients together until the texture is rich, creamy and cold!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span>\u00e7a\u00ed<\/span> bowl toppings\"acai<\/span><\/h2>\n

So now that you have your base, it\u2019s time to add the toppings. Again, there are an infinite combination of<\/span> a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl toppings and you\u2019re only limited by your imagination. Here are a few popular a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl toppings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Star fruit, kiwi fruit, strawberries, etc.<\/span><\/h3>\n

These fruits are great because they are both sweet and sour. Given that your <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl base is on the sweeter side, you\u2019ll want to balance it out with some sour flavour.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chopped nuts<\/span><\/h3>\n

Nuts add a nice crunch to your bowl, plus they\u2019ll give you lots of energy for the day ahead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Coconut flakes<\/span><\/h3>\n

You\u2019ve already got tropical flavours going on so why not add some coconut flakes?<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope this guide has helped give you some great ideas of how you can make a great <\/span>a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl. Remember, the mixture shouldn\u2019t be soupy, otherwise it\u2019s become a smoothie. If you\u2019re having trouble getting the right balance, there are a number of videos online with helpful tips.<\/span><\/p>\n