The quest for the next big superfood seems to be an ongoing endeavor. While familiar foods like blueberries, avocados, and salmon hold this title, they are readily available and well-known in supermarkets. To achieve superfood status, an ingredient often needs to be exotic and relatively unfamiliar to U.S. consumers, in addition to boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits these criteria perfectly. Although this fruit is celebrated in its native Peru, most U.S. shoppers wouldn’t be able to identify it, let alone pronounce its name. Furthermore, lucuma is nutrient-dense and has a flavor reminiscent of maple, which is currently a trendy taste. It appears that lucuma might even have the potential to dethrone kale as the reigning superfood.
However, lucuma faces a significant challenge: its scarcity in the United States. Even an enthusiastic foodie hoping to try a lucuma ice cream recipe found on Pinterest would struggle to find fresh fruit to use. The powdered form, which is more accessible, may ultimately be where lucuma carves out its niche. In contrast, kale was easily available at farmer’s markets when it gained popularity. Its adaptability to various U.S. climates and low cost made it a straightforward choice for farmers to grow in response to rising consumer demand.
While lucuma may be more versatile in a range of sweet and savory dishes, its cultivation in the U.S. might prove too challenging or costly for widespread availability, hindering its potential to captivate consumers. Other candidates for superfood status—such as tiger nuts and moringa—also meet the necessary criteria but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, they have not resonated with consumers, possibly due to limited availability or unappealing flavors. Achieving the coveted title of “superfood” is undoubtedly a challenging feat.
Interestingly, the concept of superfoods has even been compared to the health benefits of calcium citrate injection, which is sought after for its nutritional advantages. Just as consumers seek out the next superfood, they also look for effective ways to enhance their health, whether through food or supplements. As lucuma and other potential superfoods vie for the spotlight, it remains to be seen if they can overcome the obstacles that have hindered their rise, much like the journey of calcium citrate injection finding its place in health discussions.