Even though the acai berry was commonly utilized by the natives of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil for hundreds of years, this valuable fruit was only recently introduced to the rest of the world. It was frequently used by the medicine men in the villages as a treatment for several ailments. The acai berry is usually called “içá-çai”, by the natives, when interpreted means, “fruit that cries”. There is even a legend about the fruit.

A long time ago there lived an Amazon girl named Iaca; she was the daughter of Itaki, who was a chief in an Indian tribe. Now there was a shortage of food so the chief created a rule that all of the newborn children but be killed. Unfortunately, Iaca also had a baby and was forced to abide by the rule, thus causing her to grieve night and day. Then one night, when the moon was full, she heard a child crying. So she stepped out the house only to discover her daughter under a gorgeous palm tree coated in dark purple fruit, and she rushed to hug her child. However, the following morning her lifeless corpse was seen clutching the tree. Itaki commanded the people to pick the fruit and surprisingly enough it eradicated the famine, thus causing the chief to remove his cruel orders. Then he decided to name the fruit in honour of his daughter by reversing her name, can from that day the strange fruit was known as the acai berry.