Acai, pronounced ah-sah-EE, pulp can be purchased from specialty retailers and is sold as freeze-dried powder, frozen pulp, in capsules or as a juice or tea. Consumers cannot buy acai fresh because the berries are extremely perishable and will spoil as soon as one day after being picked.

These purple berries are grown on acai palm trees in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil. The berry consists mostly of seeds, which offer no nutritional value, and pulp, which is high in antioxidants and nutrients. Before transport, these chocolate-tasting berries are processed to separate the pulp from the seeds and this pulp is made into various products.

Many online companies and health food stores sell acai products. Consumers can also buy acai directly from manufacturers. These products vary greatly in potency and quality. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) urges consumers to use caution when buying acai products. In 2009, the Connecticut BBB issued a warning against the misleading sales and marketing practices of companies offering not-so-free “free trials.” These companies use unsolicited celebrity endorsements of people like Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray to advertise “free trials” of their products on social networking sites. Consumers who signed up for these “free trials” complained about receiving repeated charges on their credit card.

The fine print of these “free trials” specify that consumers must cancel the trial after a certain time period or face automatic credit charges each month. The BBB noted that some of these companies were impossible to contact, making cancellation difficult.

The BBB urges consumers to always read the fine print before signing up for a supposedly free offer. Also, avoid companies claiming these berries are a miracle drug. Acai is a good source of antioxidants and nutrients but not a wonder drug. Companies involved in scams commonly advertise acai as a weight-loss supplement, but there is no scientific evidence of this claim.

Consumers can also buy acai unrefined, unfiltered or organic. The puree is often combined with grape puree or grape juice to enhance the flavor and sold as a beverage. People can also buy acai in capsule form. Camu camu fruit may be added because it contains high amounts of vitamin C, which helps absorb antioxidants. The powered pulp with camu camu is available and can be added to shakes or smoothies. Buy acai as freeze-dried powder or in capsules to ensure the highest potency and quality. High quality juice will look like cloudy grape juice.