Sunday 28 February 2010

the Berry Company Acai juice drink

Made by: the berry juice company

Origin: UK









The Acai berry is the fruit of the Acai palm tree, which grows in Central and South America, from Belize to Peru. The tree prefers wet, swampy ground. The global demand for Acai berry products (pulp, juice etc) has risen sharply since the 1990s, due to the fruit's beneficial levels of antioxidants derived from polyphenols (the tannic and colouring compounds that give the berries their flavour profile and dark purple appearance).

This Acai juice drink is a matt purple colour. The intense purple fades towards the rim of the glass where it picks up a tawny colour. There is a plentiful sediment of fine Acai and Raspberry fruit particles in suspension, giving the colour an opacity. An unusual clear film develops on the surface of this drink as it settles.

Nosing this is like holding your head over a bubbling pot of mixed berry jam: Blackberry, raspberry and blackcurrant all stirred together. The heady scent of the various fruits has an attractive, juicy quality. Raspberry dominates here, and has a fine syrupy edge. There is a leafy, earthy note that makes its presence felt (reminds me of blueberry).

On the palate the red fruit makes the running, with a soft, billowing raspberry flavour up first and showing that syrupy style. The black fruits follow in support with plenty of jammy fruit to complete the picture. The fruit pulp gives a light texture to the drink, with the balance falling on the sweeter side.

A light juice drink that manages to satisfy, and leaves a pleasant trace of concentrated fruit in the aftertase.

Packaging claims: No artificial colours, no artificial preservatives, no sweeteners, in partnership with Heart Research UK

Ingredients: Water, Acai fruit pulp (20%), fruit extract concentrate, pressed raspberries (10%), natural flavour, citric acid, antioxidant ascorbic acid

Price: Should be about £1.50-£1.60 for a 330ml PET bottle, available from Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Department stores and health retailers nationwide

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