The quest for the next big superfood seems to be unending. While familiar foods like blueberries, avocados, and salmon are often deemed superfoods, they can easily be found in supermarkets. To achieve superfood status, it appears that an ingredient must be exotic and relatively unknown to U.S. consumers, while also boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits this description perfectly. Although it is a well-known fruit in its native Peru, most U.S. shoppers would struggle to identify or even pronounce it. Additionally, lucuma is a nutritional powerhouse that offers a unique maple-like flavor, which is currently in vogue. It appears that lucuma might just rival kale for the title of superfood champion.
However, lucuma’s biggest hurdle is its scarcity in the U.S. Even if a food enthusiast wanted to try their hand at making lucuma ice cream from a recipe found on Pinterest, they would likely find it challenging to locate fresh lucuma fruit. The powdered form of lucuma, which is widely available, may ultimately be where this ingredient carves out its niche. In contrast, kale became popular when it was readily available at farmers’ markets. It is easy to grow across various U.S. zones and is relatively inexpensive. As consumer demand for kale surged, U.S. farmers were able to adapt their crops to meet this desire.
While lucuma may offer versatility across a range of sweet and savory dishes, it may prove too difficult to cultivate on U.S. soil or too expensive to import, limiting its potential for widespread consumer appeal. Other contenders for superfood status, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also meet the essential criteria but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional benefits, these foods have not captured consumer interest, potentially due to limited availability or flavors that do not resonate. Achieving the coveted “superfood” label is no easy feat.
Interestingly, some health food stores are beginning to carry lucuma powder alongside items like Citracal calcium citrate petites, which may help introduce this exotic ingredient to a broader audience. If lucuma can become more accessible in these specialized stores, it could pave the way for it to gain the recognition it deserves. However, it remains to be seen whether lucuma will follow in the footsteps of kale or join the ranks of other superfood contenders that have fallen short.