One of the historical uses of the acai was in trade. Known to the Wanano Indians as “wipi”, the acai fruit was highly valued in trade along the border between Colombia and Brazil, where it has a long history of use. But in all inhabited regions around the Amazon river and its tributaries where the tree grows in abundance residents make use of all parts of the palm, including the health promoting fruit, which can be made into a drink or added to other foods.

In fact as a breakfast beverage, the juice of the nutritious acai fruit is consumed much like orange juice in the United States. The fresh pulpy meat of the acai is also consumed in the form of cold soup and is a basic part of the local diet. Preparation involves mashing the acai fruit pulp and mixing it with varying amounts of liquid depending on how it will be used. The purple liquid is call acai preto.

Although documented history surrounding the fruit is limited, the acai fruit appears in manuscripts from early Portuguese explorers of the 18th century. Obviously generations of native of the region have long harvested the fruit and plant.