Fruits & Berries

The açaí berry (pronounced ah-sah-EE) is the dark purple fruit of the slender Euterpe oleracea, or the açaí palm. Its berries, which are rich in bioactives, have recently evolved from the nutritious staple food of the Tupi population in Brazil to a valued superfood across the world.

The guarana plant, named after the indigenous Guaranì people, is native to the Amazon basin. Guarana has a long history and is cherished not only for its caffeine content but also for its polyphenols: guarana is rich in catechins, epicatechins, theobromine and theophylline. In fact, the natural phytochemical complex in guarana resembles that of cacao.

Propolis is the resin produced by bees which protects the hive against bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. Propolis is responsible for staving off illness within the densely populated hive, defending it against intruders and for preventing spoilage – even in hot and humid environments. Since the combinations of polyphenols in propolis, as well as the concentrations thereof, are completely dependent on the local botanical diversity, propolis from different regions and continents is distinctly different.

The bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus/Myrtilli fructus), also known as a European blueberry, belongs to the heather family (Ericaceae). It is native to the temperate climate zones of northern Europe and Asia and prefers semi-shady locations such as deciduous and coniferous forests. Its blue colour is due to the high proportion of secondary phytochemicals it contains.