The Maqui
berry, also known as the Chilean Wineberry, is a small purple-black
berry that grows on an evergreen tree (Aristotelia
chilensis) native to the Valdivian temperate rainforests of
Chile’s and Argentina’s Patagonia region. The maqui berry grows
profusely in the wild, and it is this naturally organic berry that
is wild harvested by the locals of the region. Traditionally maqui
has been consumed either as a fresh berry or in a juice for
centuries, but it is only in very recent years that it has gained
some recognition in the international market, flagged as one of the
new Superfruits. Although there are few studies as of yet conducted
on the health benefits of consuming maqui berries, what is know is
that like most other purple fruits, the maqui berry contains high
levels of anthocyanins, the purple pigment that gives rise to
maqui’s purple colour. It is these anthocyanins that are known to
have beneficial effects on human health. Apart from the nutritional
benefits of this new Superfruit, Maqui is also generating income
for the local communities in a sustainable manner, without
destroying the pristine environment from which they are collected.
Although the entrance of this berry into the market is very recent,
it has already found success in applications such as juices and
dietary supplements in the form of capsules and
powders.
Superfood
Ingredients' Organic Freeze Dried Maqui Powder harnesses the
goodness of the berry in a format that is ideal for adding directly
to smoothies, yoghurts or sprinkling over cereal, or as used as a
functional ingredient in the food, beverage, nutraceutical or
cosmeceutical industries.
To find
out more about this product and the other superfood ingredients in
our range please visit our website!
