Despite their name, acai berries are not technically berries – they are actually drupes, just like olives and apricots. Acai berries are dark purple fruits that grow on Euterpe oleracea trees, which are often found along the banks of the Amazon River.
Similar to the blueberries they so closely resemble, acai berries get their distinctive, dark purple hue from their natural abundance of antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins. When consumed, these anthocyanins help protect the body from oxidative stress and promote overall health.
The only downside to fresh acai berries is that they have a tough outer skin and a hard pit at the center. That's why acai berries are usually consumed in the form of a dark purple paste or puree, which can then be freeze-dried into a powder to retain maximum nutrition.