The quest for the next major superfood appears to be unending. While familiar items like blueberries, avocados, and salmon have already earned this title and are easily found in supermarkets, truly achieving superfood status seems to require an ingredient that is both exotic and relatively unknown to American consumers, along with an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits this bill perfectly. Although this fruit enjoys popularity in its native Peru, most U.S. shoppers would struggle to recognize it, let alone pronounce its name. Additionally, lucuma is a nutritional powerhouse and boasts a flavor reminiscent of maple, which is currently a trendy taste. It seems that lucuma could potentially dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, lucuma faces a significant hurdle: its limited availability in the U.S. Even if a food enthusiast discovers a lucuma ice cream recipe on Pinterest, they would likely find it challenging to locate fresh lucuma to include in their creation. The powdered form, which is more readily accessible, may ultimately be where this ingredient carves out its niche. In contrast, kale gained popularity partly due to its presence at farmer’s markets; it is easy to cultivate in various U.S. climates and remains affordable. When demand for kale surged, American farmers could easily adjust their crops to accommodate consumers’ desires.
While lucuma may be more versatile for both sweet and savory dishes, it may be too challenging to cultivate in the U.S. or too expensive to import for consumers to develop a strong affinity for it. Other potential superfoods, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also meet the criteria for that prestigious designation but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, they have not resonated with consumers, possibly due to limited availability or flavor preferences.
Interestingly, the popularity of certain health products, like the Citracal calcium supplement, illustrates how consumers often seek out beneficial nutrients. For example, many people wonder, “Citracal calcium supplement, para que sirve?” (what is the Citracal calcium supplement for?). While lucuma and other superfoods might offer impressive health benefits, the journey to becoming a household name in the superfood arena is fraught with challenges. Achieving the coveted “superfood” status is not an easy feat, as demonstrated by the ongoing search for the next big thing.