Cupuacu: The next superfood?

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Nov 29th 2007 9:27AM

Ever heard of Cupuacu? Yeah, me neither. But it could be the next superfood, according to health food sources. It's a tree found in the Amazon Rainforest and it a relative of the cacao plant. Want to know more? It's been said to have a number of amazing benefits, such as:

It can increase your libido
It can boost your immune system
It can reduce the signs of aging and help you look and feel younger
It help your body fight disease and cancer cells
It's high in antioxidants.

And the best part? I've never tried it I hear it has a delicious chocolaty taste. Mmm ...

What do you think -- is this the next superfood, or just a new name for snake oil?

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Comments (23)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Judy Garwood 11-30-2007 @ 6:42AM

Where can someone buy Cupuacu. Is there a store that will mail it?

laura 11-30-2007 @ 7:33AM

It looks like an avacado. How do you eat it?

Debe 12-05-2007 @ 11:58PM

Cupuacu is that what it is called in the store? And were can I get it. Thanks

Monique 11-30-2007 @ 7:50AM

I love cupuacu. cupuacu juice is delicious. I have not seen in USA at any Brazilian food store. I love chocolate truffles w/ cupuacu!!

cantergirl 11-30-2007 @ 10:12AM

You get the same benfits from coconut water at you local health food store easier to find:)

Gwenn 11-30-2007 @ 8:04AM

Hopefully it can be grown somewhere else. Seems like all the best stuff depletes the rainforest.

Steve Morris 11-30-2007 @ 9:05AM

I would be very interested in finding some of this Cupuacu. Is there someone in the west coast of Florida that has it?

shelonstage 11-30-2007 @ 8:59AM

I'm sure the U.S. government will make it an illegal substance.

tim cunningham 11-30-2007 @ 9:11AM

this product was featured on a Today shoe segment this week. evidently it tastes terrible plain (per Meredith) but if mixed w/other ingredients it is very good. Waiting to try it here but not readily available - even in NYC

Len Greiner 11-30-2007 @ 10:07AM

I'll take any product orally, intraveinously, rectally or however, that would give me a "woody," boost my immune system while simultaneously reduce signs of aging, make me look, feel and act younger while it fights disease and cancer cells. Bring this product on!!!! Where can I order a hundred pounds of it??

Art Lynch 11-30-2007 @ 10:16AM

Great!! : / Just when I'm bein' introduced to the joys of "early alzheimer's", they come up with a new libido booster!! Thank God I only have to deal with grandchildren now! : )

gessica 11-30-2007 @ 11:06AM

I lived in Belem for 4 years and i did eat a lot cupuacu is delicious. You can eat ice cream and juice. Anyway is the best test. I use to make the juice. They also have there acai,tacaca and a lot other deferent fruits and food you never heard. You must go there to try everything..

dee 11-30-2007 @ 11:22AM

Where did you learn proper English vocabulary and sentence structure?

Richard 11-30-2007 @ 1:50PM

If this catches on big with Americans (and other non-Amazon residents) it's going to result in more destruction of the Amazon rainforest (which is important to the entire world's climate) to create cupuacu plantations. Not to mention threatening the already-threatened, near-extinct aboriginal peoples in the Amazon rainforest.
And probably for very little reason. There are no miracles, and it's hardly plausible that this fruit can do all that's claimed for it. But just wait until some US food giant starts selling it and promoting it!

Lee Paquet 11-30-2007 @ 11:27AM

This stuff sounds like it would cure warts. Maybe it will make me a better banjo-player too? I need to find some at the local store. Sounds like the rain-forest has a new crop to grow........................

Elaine 11-30-2007 @ 12:16PM

I used to live in Brazil and I LOVE cupuacu.
Tastes great and the juice is sooo sooo good. It has this sharp citrusy taste but not too strong.
It is more popular in the north and northeast of Brazil. Ans trust me, does not tastes like chocolate! :)

kathy 11-30-2007 @ 12:14PM

looks like pea soup which is probally better than this hyped up bull. ARE THERE ANY STUDIES TO BACK UP THESE FINDINGS?

Nick 11-30-2007 @ 1:24PM

forget it the best food is italian any thing else is garbage.

traveler 11-30-2007 @ 1:03PM

spoken like someone that has never eaten Italian food in italy. It taste like can USA Italian food. Italian food in the USA is not real Italian food. I do have to say that the food in Milano was not nearly as bad as the food in Roma or Naples.

Kenneth 11-30-2007 @ 6:16PM

OK. Great story and very interesting. Now when are you going to finish the story with where can you get this stuff. Not including that information just makes the article one more piece of BS

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