Acai Berry vs. Seaberry

An August 8 article in the NY Daily News begins- "Move over, acai berry- there's a new super-food on the horizon." The article goes on to detail the health and wellness benefits of what it predicts will be the next big fruit trend- the sea buckthorn berry (known as just seaberry). The orange, tart grape-sized berry is nutrient-rich, packed with vitamins A, K, E, C, B1 and B2, fatty acids, lipids, organic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, folic acid, and flavonoids.

While the seaberry, commonly used in food and skincare lines for years in other countries, is gaining momentum in the US (just this week I received a postcard in the mail from Fresh for a free sample of its new line of seaberry products), I think the NY Daily News (which seems to have lifted and shortened an article published in The Independent) may have jumped the gun in declaring it a winning replacement to the acai berry. Anyone who's been to the West Village's new O CAFÉ can back me up when I say the acai berry continues to demonstrate it is here to stay. A bold, colorful acai sign sits noticeably in the shop's front window, and its acai smoothie is one of the best I've tasted. The frosty $8 treat, made with acai and organic cane juice, is topped with a homemade blend of crunchy seeds, nuts and sprouts and provides a healthy dose of antioxidants. Trends come and go- but I think something this good has the power to stick around.

O CAFÉ, serving the flavors of South America, displays an acai sign in its front window
The café serves coffee, tea and tiny pastries- but my drink of choice is the acai smoothie
At $8 the thick, purple smoothie comes in a large see-through cup with a spoon and straw
A close-up of the nutty topping