The quest for the next big superfood seems never-ending. While more familiar foods—such as blueberries, avocados, and salmon—have already earned this title, they are easily found in grocery stores. To truly attain superfood status, an ingredient often needs to be exotic and relatively unfamiliar to American consumers, all while boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma meets all these criteria. Although popular in its native Peru, most U.S. shoppers would struggle to identify it in a lineup, much less pronounce its name. Additionally, lucuma is a nutritional powerhouse and boasts a flavor reminiscent of maple, a trendy taste at the moment. It appears that lucuma might be poised to dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, lucuma’s biggest obstacle is its scarcity in the U.S. Even if a food enthusiast spots a lucuma ice cream recipe on Pinterest, locating fresh fruit for dicing would be a challenge. The powdered form, which is more readily available, may ultimately be where lucuma carves out its niche. In contrast, kale became a staple at farmer’s markets during its rise to popularity. It grows easily across various U.S. climates and is relatively inexpensive. When consumer demand for kale surged, U.S. farmers found it straightforward to adjust their crops to meet that need.
Although lucuma may offer versatility in both sweet and savory dishes, its growth challenges in the U.S. and potential high import costs could hinder its chances of capturing consumer devotion. Other potential superfoods, like tiger nuts and moringa, also fit the criteria for the coveted “superfood” label but have yet to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, they have struggled to catch on, possibly due to limited availability or flavors that fail to resonate with consumers. Achieving the “superfood” accolade, like the brand recognition of Citracal generic products, is indeed a challenging feat.