Frutas e Açaí

açaí na tigela com creme de maracujá - pure perfection

I'm pretty sure I have found my favorite thing to eat here in Brazil, even though it's only been a week. Açaí com creme de maracujá. Holy cow, it is delicious.

But first, I have to tell you about açaí. In the US, my exposure to açaí basically came in the form of expensive infused juices and dried berries that my parents bought. Here in Brazil, you can find açaí almost anywhere - on the street, in juice bars, on dessert menus in restaurants. It primarily comes as frozen fruit pulp, like a granita. You can buy them in supermarkets pre-made, or get it fresh at the juice stands. Also it is common to add toppings like banana or granola. Even the pre-made cups from the market had a tiny granola packet on top (a la yogurt and granola cups) that you could add. I just like eating the açaí straight up. :)

Frooty - açaí in a cup 

When you get açaí fresh, you can order an açaí na tigela, which means "açaí in the bowl." The picture at the top is of açaí com creme de maracujá - half açaí and half passion fruit cream, essentially soft serve. Think of an incredibly intense fruit explosion of flavor and you're close to the sensation that is this dessert. The amazing thing about this combo is that açaí alone and the creme de maracujá alone are delicious, but the combination of both in one bite is even more amazing! Maracujá is pretty tart, and the açaí provides great balance with a sweeter counterpart. My roommate is a Paulista (São Paulo inhabitant) herself and hadn't tried the two together yet either, but she was also impressed with the combination and loved it!

Enjoying açaí at Frutaria Paulista 

The açaí place we went to last night was actually a fruit mart called Frutaria Paulista that also sells fresh juices, açaí, and other delectables. Claudia and I met up with two other US med students on vacation (M4s enjoying the end of the year around the world, woohoo!) and shared two large bowls of the stuff. It was a perfect nightcap to a great evening which included a delicious dinner of skewered meats, potatoes, and vinagrette (salsa with vinegar) in the adjacent bohemian neighborhood Vila Madalena.

I also couldn't help noticing the wide array of fruits available at Frutaria Paulista. As I've already mentioned before, the fruit here has been great and the juices so delicious. I basically buy more fruit than anything else to eat here. Walking into Frutaria Paulista we passed by a large crate the width of an elevator filled with fresh coconuts that someone was cutting open for consumption, and the largest mangoes I have ever seen in my life. I kept looking over at them as we were having açaí, along with the multiple species of bananas. Obviously, I had to document the discovery. 

My astonishment/joy

L: regular size. R: literally labeled, "GIGANTIC mango"

Rows 2 and 3 contain the gigantic mangoes. They even look huge from afar!