It's the acai berry.

Harvested from palm trees in the Brazilian Amazon, acai (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) seems to have everything going for it.

It's got more antioxidants than blueberries, red wine or pomegranates. It's rich in omega fatty acids, fiber and vitamins. It packs a delectable berry-cocoa flavor -- think red wine with a strong infusion of chocolate.

And its growing popularity in the United States -- in smoothies, energy drinks, juices and supplements -- might even help to preserve the Amazon rainforest, since acai farming can provide a sustainable alternative to logging, cattle farming and other industries that cause deforestation.

Acai took root in the United States after California surfer Ryan Black went on a trip to Brazil in 1999. He found the locals eating a purplish mush, which they made from berries that grew in clumps on the tops of palm trees. He saw an opportunity to market acai in the United States to foodies, athletes and the health-conscious.

To achieve their goal, he and his brother Jeremy founded Sambazon in 2001. Among their first markets for acai were the juice bars of California. They now sell acai smoothies, juices, frozen smoothie packs, sorbet and supplements across the country. Their slogan is "Get with the purple berry."

Locally, Sambazon acai smoothies and juices are available at Whole Foods and Giant Eagle stores. Suggested price for a 10.5-ounce bottle is $3.59.

Jeremy Black, now vice president of marketing for Sambazon, says that long before anyone in the United States knew what it was, acai was a training food for Brazilian athletes, such as jujitsu and ultimate fighting champion Royce Gracie.

"Those guys are actually the guys who helped acai become popular in the main beach cities of Brazil," Black says. "It's been an Amazon regional food for thousands of years. But in the '90s, it was the iujitsu guys who started training with it and turned it into something cool and hip and something that the local juice bars wanted to sell on the beach in Rio."

John Sicher, editor and publisher of "Beverage Digest," says acai is part of a growing market for drinks that don't merely taste good but also provide health or nutritional benefits. He cites Vitamin Water as one example.

"One trend in the beverage industry is a consumer growing interest in functionally enhanced beverages," he says. "I see that trend as a pretty strong one. The industry is also looking for new and interesting ingredients to help respond to that interest."

Acai can be savored as a juice or blended with mango, agave, bananas and passion fruit in smoothies. In puree form, it can be enjoyed in a "Rio Bowl," which is a mixture of acai, bananas and granola.

Others have jumped on the acai bandwagon. Naked Juice, owned by PepsiCo, sells an acai-based drink called Purple Machine, while Bossa Nova markets a line of acai juice, flavored with mango, agave, cranberries and other fruits. In October, Anheuser Busch introduced 180 Blue, an acai energy drink. Proctor & Gamble incorporated acai into one of its shampoos, while Haagen Dazs features Brazilian Acai Berry Sorbet.

One buzzword seen frequently on labels of acai products is "superfood." The term refers to a group of nutrient-rich foods that have been linked to improving overall health and fighting cancer, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Superfoods include whole-grain bread, blueberries, brown rice, salmon, soy and spinach.