Acai
Acai suppliers and sourcing guide
Acai is the small, dark purple fruit of Euterpe oleracea, a palm of the Amazon estuary in Brazil. The fruit is mostly seed, so only a thin layer of pulp and skin is used: fruit is soaked, pulped and frozen, or the pulp is freeze dried or spray dried to a powder. Powders are sold by anthocyanin content, and freeze-dried pulp keeps more of the fruit's fat and color than spray-dried juice on a carrier.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Euterpe oleracea · açaí · acai berry · assai palm
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of acai
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Frozen pulp
Pasteurized acai pulp sold frozen in packs or drums, graded by solids content.
Freeze-dried powder
Whole pulp and skin freeze dried and milled, with natural fat and anthocyanins and no carrier.
Spray-dried powder
Juice or pulp spray dried with a carrier such as maltodextrin; lower in fat and anthocyanins per gram.
Extract
Hydroalcoholic extract standardized to anthocyanins or polyphenols by UV or HPLC.
Organic
Pulp or powder from certified organic wild-harvested fruit, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- HPLC anthocyanin profile (cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside) to confirm Euterpe fruit and detect other berry powders.
- Anthocyanin assay
- Total anthocyanins by pH-differential UV or HPLC, with the method named.
- Fat and moisture
- Fat content and water activity or moisture, which show whether a powder is whole pulp or juice on a carrier.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Raw powders carry more microbial load than extracts and are often steam treated.
- Pesticides
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested otherwise.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep frozen pulp at or below -18 C and avoid thaw cycles. Store powders sealed in foil bags or lined drums in a cool, dry place away from light; freeze-dried powder is hygroscopic and its fat can oxidize once opened. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Anthocyanin content, fat and color vary with harvest season and drying method, so record anthocyanin results, carrier and drying method for each lot. Rotate stock FEFO and watch older powder for rancid odor.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Acai natural health product monograph lists Euterpe oleracea with the dried fruit flesh as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Euterpe spp. (POL-NF-00348) concerns the fruit (berries) of Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe edulis and lists them as not novel in food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists acai berry extract with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant and FEMA No. 4547, without a CFR citation.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Acai suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking acai suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell acai? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of acai can brands buy?
Common forms include frozen pulp, freeze-dried powder, spray-dried powder, extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for acai include?
Expect identity, anthocyanin assay, fat and moisture, heavy metals, microbiology and pesticides, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should acai be stored?
Keep frozen pulp at or below -18 C and avoid thaw cycles. Store powders sealed in foil bags or lined drums in a cool, dry place away from light; freeze-dried powder is hygroscopic and its fat can oxidize once opened. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of acai?
Health Canada's Acai natural health product monograph lists Euterpe oleracea with the dried fruit flesh as the source part. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Euterpe spp. (POL-NF-00348) concerns the fruit (berries) of Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe edulis and lists them as not novel in food. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists acai berry extract with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant and FEMA No. 4547, without a CFR citation.
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