The quest for the next big superfood seems unending. While more familiar foods, such as blueberries, avocados, and salmon, have already earned this title, they are easily found in supermarkets. For an ingredient to truly earn superfood status, it typically needs to be exotic and relatively unknown to American consumers, alongside boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits this description perfectly. Although popular in its native Peru, most shoppers in the U.S. wouldn’t recognize it, let alone pronounce its name. Furthermore, lucuma is a nutrient powerhouse and has a flavor reminiscent of maple, a trendy taste currently in vogue. It seems lucuma could potentially dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, lucuma faces a significant challenge: its scarcity in the U.S. Even if a food enthusiast is eager to try a lucuma ice cream recipe they found on Pinterest, locating fresh lucuma fruit would be quite difficult. The powdered form, which is readily available, may ultimately be where this ingredient carves out its niche. In contrast, kale enjoyed a surge in popularity partly due to its widespread availability at farmer’s markets. It’s also easy to cultivate in various U.S. climates and relatively inexpensive. When consumers began to demand kale, U.S. farmers could easily adjust their crops to satisfy that demand.
While lucuma may offer versatility in a range of sweet and savory dishes, cultivation in the U.S. may be too challenging, or the costs of importing it might hinder its chances of becoming a consumer favorite. Other potential superfoods, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also meet the criteria for that sought-after title but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional benefits, these foods haven’t resonated with consumers, possibly due to limited availability or unappealing flavors.
In the realm of health and wellness, many people are turning to supplements like Citracal chewable to enhance their nutrition. However, finding a superfood that captures the public’s imagination and complements popular products like Citracal chewable is no easy feat. The accolade of “superfood” remains elusive, making it clear that achieving this status is a challenging endeavor.