Guide
What is an acai bowl?
An acai bowl is frozen acai fruit blended thick, served in a bowl, and topped with granola, fresh fruit and a drizzle. Here is what acai is, what it tastes like, and how Playa Bowls Rogers builds one.
The fruit
Acai (ah-sah-EE) is the small, dark purple fruit of a palm that grows in the Amazon basin. Most of the world's acai comes from Brazil. The fruit does not travel fresh, so it is pulped and frozen within a day of harvest. That frozen pulp is what every acai bowl starts with.
On its own, acai tastes like an earthy berry with a note of dark chocolate. It is not very sweet. That is why acai bowls are topped with fruit, granola and something sweet like honey.
The bowl
A bowl is acai pulp blended thick and served cold with a spoon. The texture sits between sorbet and a very thick smoothie. Playa Bowls' acai is organic, comes from the rainforests of Brazil, and is not blended with any juices. The bowl is finished with blueberry flax granola, fresh fruit such as banana and strawberry, and a drizzle of honey, peanut butter, almond butter or Nutella.
Bowls are one size. The 8th Ave (acai, granola, banana, honey) is the simplest. The Power Bowl adds chocolate protein and peanut butter for a post-workout meal. The full lineup is on the menu page.
Acai is one of six bases
Pitaya
Pink dragon fruit, grown in Nicaragua, milder than acai and bright pink in the bowl. The Electric Mermaid and Dragonberry are built on it.
Coconut
The raw insides of young Thai coconuts, blended with banana. The Nutelloco is the signature coconut bowl.
Mango, green and banana
Alphonso mango from India, a kale-based green base, and a banana base.
Acai bowls near Rogers and Bentonville
Playa Bowls Rogers is the first Playa Bowls in Arkansas. It is coming soon to Summit at Pinnacle Springs, the Whole Foods-anchored center on S 46th Street in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers, minutes from Bentonville. Hours will be 8 am to 8 pm, every day.
Address, parking and directions. For a group, a build-your-own bowl bar feeds 10 to 100 people.
Common questions
How do you pronounce acai?
Ah-sah-EE. It is a Portuguese word; the fruit comes from the Amazon basin in Brazil.
Is an acai bowl healthy?
The base is fruit blended thick. What you add decides the rest. Fresh fruit and granola keep it light. Honey, nut butter and Nutella add sugar and calories. The 8th Ave is the simplest bowl on the menu.
What does acai taste like?
Earthy berry with a hint of dark chocolate, less sweet than most fruit. That is why acai bowls usually get fruit and a drizzle on top.
What is the difference between acai and pitaya?
Acai is a dark purple palm fruit with an earthy flavor. Pitaya is pink dragon fruit, milder and sweeter. Playa Bowls serves both as bases, plus coconut, mango, green and banana.
