The quest for the next major superfood appears to be a never-ending pursuit. While some familiar foods like blueberries, avocados, and salmon already hold this title due to their availability in supermarkets, an ingredient must often be exotic and relatively unfamiliar to U.S. consumers to achieve peak superfood status, in addition to boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits this description perfectly. Although it is a beloved fruit in its native Peru, most American shoppers would struggle to recognize or even pronounce it. Furthermore, lucuma is packed with nutrients and has a delightful maple flavor, which is currently trending. It seems that lucuma could potentially dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, lucuma faces a significant challenge due to its limited availability in the U.S. Even if a curious foodie comes across a lucuma ice cream recipe on Pinterest, finding fresh lucuma to incorporate into the dish would be quite a challenge. The powdered version, which is more readily available, may ultimately carve out a niche for this ingredient. In contrast, kale gained popularity partly because it was readily sold at farmer’s markets and proved easy to cultivate in various U.S. climates at a low cost. When the demand for kale surged, American farmers could easily adapt their crops to meet consumer preferences.
While lucuma may offer versatility in numerous sweet and savory recipes, its cultivation in the U.S. may be too challenging, or the cost of importation too high, hindering its potential to capture consumer enthusiasm. Other candidates for superfood status, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also meet the necessary criteria but have not gained traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, these foods have struggled to resonate, possibly due to limited availability or taste preferences. Like many sought-after labels, the designation of “superfood” is not easily attained, especially when considering factors like the presence of ca citrate that can elevate nutritional value and appeal.