Acai products have proliferated greatly in the last few years, and many are now commercially available in health food stores and over the Internet. However, few are of high quality. Do not buy acai based on the lowest price, or you will surely be ripped off. The best quality acai currently available is certified organic acai juice or frozen fruit pulp.

Powders and capsules are also available, but because of the immense difficulty in processing acai, few of these are worth buying. If you do buy acai capsules or powder, be sure to look for organic certification to be certain it was harvested in a way that preserves its nutrients and integrity. Also be sure the product has been freeze-dried or otherwise carefully preserved. If a manufacturer has done these things, they will proudly announce it on the label. Any manufacturer or marketer of acai products should also willingly certify that their product has been tested and analyzed according to industry standards and is free of microbial contaminants. Ideally, they can also provide lot-specific anthocyanin content and/or ORAC scores on their product’s label.

The color and the smell of acai products are important indicators of whether their origin, processing, and quality are acceptable. Real acai fruit is dark purple, almost black, so any acai product you purchase should also be dark purple. If it’s light purple or lavender, it’s not high-quality acai, or may not be acai at all. Also, acai should have little or no odor. If it smells like sunflower seeds or walnuts that have been sitting around too long, then it’s rancid. Acai is rich in fatty acids, but they are quite susceptible to spoilage and rancidity, so pay careful attention to how acai products smell.

Once opened, use your acai immediately and store the remainder in the refrigerator. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat. If it starts to smell a bit off, it is almost certainly rancid (oxidized), which means it will have reduced — sometimes significantly — therapeutic value. Remember, acai is supposed to be an anti-oxidant.