Replacing acai with Indian berries like amla, jamun, falsa, mulberries

The world is our oyster and in todayrsquos times it also encloses ingredients from all shores One such recent traveller the Brazilian acai berry is making its presence felt in the cityrsquos smoothie bowls and drinks Deconstructed an acai bowl typically consists of a base made from pureacuteed berries blended with other fruits like bananas or blueberries and a liquid such as almond milk or coconut water topped with granola sliced fruits nuts and seedsNutritionist Sarah Vazirali who practises behaviour counselling and evidencebased MI methods emphasises that while acai berries are a powerhouse of antioxidants nutrients and fibre sources they come to us all the way from Brazilmdashfreezedried and powdered leaving a significant carbon footprint This fact should make us more responsible of our food choicesldquoTheir colour comes from anthocyanin which is very beneficialrdquo she says ldquoWe have many free radicals in our body The environment and food we consume are responsible for it Due to oxidative stress therersquos a lot of inflammation especially in the Indian population We are leading in Type 2 diabetes The antioxidants in acai berry are high in vitamins and minerals However in frozen form you hardly get anything out of itrdquoIndian berries such as amla jamun falsa mulberries mainly in winter and ber Indian jujube are packed with vitamins minerals and nutrients similar to acai but we fail to recognise this ldquoBe mindful of the time of the day you consume berriesndashthey are best before 4 pmrdquo points Vazirali ldquoHave on an empty stomach and not as a dessert after a mealrdquoSarah Vazirali and Karishma SakhraniChef Karishma Sakhrani advocates using locally grown berries as substitutes for acai berries She has curated some nourishing bowls at Communion Cafe in Belapur using locally grown blueberries ldquoMy secret spin is a big squeeze of lemon juice to cut the sweetness of the berries and bananardquo says Sakhrani adding ldquoIn India we are fortunate to have a variety of locally grown berries like strawberries blueberries and mulberries that can easily replace acai berries The preparation process remains the samemdashblend the berries with yoghurt or milk and top with local fruits nuts and seeds I have established contacts with local farmers who supply quality ingredients directly to our kitchen This gives me greater control over the quality of the ingredients used and it helps us support local farming communitiesrdquoSakhrani believes incorporating phalsa jamun and even ber into bowls and smoothies can be an excellent way to add variety flavour and nutritional benefits to our diet These berries provide comparable if not superior nourishment to acai berries with unique health benefitsrdquo she adds sharing some delicious recipes to try at home using Indian berries when they are in season Pair phalsa with mint lemon and coconut Ber goes well with ginger cinnamon and honey and jamun pairs nicely with yoghurt banana and limeFor a refreshing jamun smoothie she blends a cup of deseeded purple berries a banana half a cup of almond milk lime and honey She recommends serving this in a tall glass filled with ice Indian berries in her opinion have a tangy sweetness that distinguishes them from acai berries ldquoI donrsquot think international trends are always bad Some of them inspire you to experiment in the kitchen and create your interpretation or highlight how similar our cultures can sometimes bemdashcase in point Dalgona coffee vs pheti hui coffeerdquo she saysBerry Bowlsgtgt Base Mix yoghurt coconut milk or almond milkgtgt Berries Add fresh or frozen phalsa ber and jamungtgt Toppings For sweetness enhance with granola nuts seeds chia or flax coconut flakes and honey or maple syrupgtgt Additional Fruits Combine with bananas mangoes or pomegranates for extra flavour and nutritionNutritional benefitsPhalsa the Indian summer special is a sherbet berry rich in antioxidants Vitamin C and minerals such as potassium and magnesium It has antiinflammatory and cooling properties Ber consumed till August is high in vitamins especially Vitamin C antioxidants and fibre It is excellent for immunity and digestive healthJamun is packed with antioxidants Vitamin C and iron It is known for its blood sugarregulating properties and digestive benefits