The quest for the next trending superfood seems to be an ongoing endeavor. While more familiar foods such as blueberries, avocados, and salmon have earned this title due to their accessibility in supermarkets, it appears that for an ingredient to reach peak superfood status, it must be both exotic and relatively unknown to American consumers, all while boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma meets all these criteria. Although this fruit is beloved in its native Peru, most shoppers in the U.S. wouldn’t recognize it, let alone know how to pronounce its name. It is also a nutritional powerhouse, rich in calcium citrate and other beneficial nutrients. Additionally, it has a delightful maple-like flavor that aligns with current food trends. Lucuma seems poised to challenge kale’s reign as the ultimate superfood.
However, lucuma’s biggest hurdle is its limited availability in the U.S. Even a culinary enthusiast eager to try a lucuma ice cream recipe from Pinterest would struggle to find fresh fruit for their dish. The powdered form of lucuma, which is more readily available, may be where this ingredient truly carves out its niche. In contrast, kale gained popularity and was readily found at farmers’ markets, making it easy for U.S. farmers to adapt their crops to meet consumer demand due to its low production costs and adaptability to various growing zones.
While lucuma may offer versatility in both sweet and savory dishes, its cultivation in the U.S. could prove challenging or too expensive to import, hindering its potential to capture consumer fascination. Other contenders for the superfood title, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also possess the necessary attributes but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, including the presence of calcium citrate, these foods have not resonated with consumers, possibly due to limited availability or unappealing flavors. Achieving the coveted “superfood” status is no easy feat, as evidenced by these challenges.