The pros: Trader Joe's Organic Acai Puree Packets add color, flavor, and fiber to your bowl of oats or smoothies.
The cons: Acai is not a cheap item regardless of where it comes from. You may need to compensate for this products lack of sweetness. The packets can be a bit awkward to open.
The verdict:
The first time I ever tried Acai was not through the healthiest of items. It was actually by trying some Brookstone chocolate. They sell a dark chocolate covered blueberry acai flavor which is one of my favorites to reach for.
Now obviously, these packets were going to taste quite a bit differently. These are unsweetened and not meant to be consumed by themselves. That doesn't mean I did not try it by itself. It was tart. A bit gritty and had a slightly chocolatey taste to it. However, you're not going to sit down and chow down on one of these packets with a spoon.
Now, if I had to complain about anything, I wish the packets were easier to open. Otherwise, with a bit of defrosting you'll have a lovely additional flavor, color, and a bit of extra nutrition on this product. And no, I wouldn't wear white anywhere near these packets. This is a very intense color and if you are in a rush, consider yourself warned. Now, I've heard that Acai fans pay a pretty hefty premium for Acai at other locations. This works out to just over $1 per packet, so it's not cheap, just cheaper than having this out.
I enjoyed this most when mixed with other items. Specifically, I wanted to sort of replicate my favorite Brookstone flavor in a blender. The recipe is posted at the bottom of this post. I enjoyed this. I think this helped bulk up my favorite morning smoothie, it added some intense coloring, some fiber, and some of that je n'ai sais quoi that unsweetend Acai is. Because I'm used to it sweetened, I did opt for the blending it with bananas, blueberries, cacao powder, and almond beverage (yes, the sweetened kind). Overall, it made for a pleasant morning drink.
For $4.49 for four individually wrapped packets, these aren't a cheap item but a nice add on to your normal routine whether your routine is smoothies, juices, or oats. The possibilities are seemingly limitless. Feel free to share how you've made this in the comments section.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The package of Trader Joe's Organic Acai Puree Packets:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients and how to prepare:
Out of the package you get:
Prepared in a smoothie:
Chocolate Blueberry Acai Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 Trader Joe's Unsweetened Acai Puree Packet
- 1 Frozen Banana (or fresh)
- 1 tbsp Trader Joe's Cacao Powder
- 1 cup Trader Joe's Almond Beverage I used the one in the red container as it does have some sweetness to it.
- 10-15 Trader Joe's Frozen Blueberries
Instructions
- Allow Acai packet to defrost according to the directions on the package
- Put all ingredients into a blender
- Blend on low for 30 seconds
- Blend on medium for 45-60 seconds until mixture is smooth.
Would I buy this again? Trader Joe's Organic Acai Puree Packets are a bit pricey, but if you love the flavor it is one of the cheaper Acai Packets around. As for me, this will probably have a place in my freezer. I enjoyed it.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
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