Acai (pronounced ah-sah-EE) is a small, dark purple berry that grows in clusters on acai palm trees native to the Amazon rainforest, primarily in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. Indigenous Amazonian communities have long eaten the berries fresh, juiced, or blended into a thick puree; acai gained international popularity in the early 2000s as a marketed "superfood" for its high antioxidant (anthocyanin) content. Because fresh acai is highly perishable, it is usually sold outside the Amazon as frozen puree, juice, or powder, most often blended into the smoothie-like acai bowl and topped with granola, sliced fruit, and other toppings.