The hunt for the next major superfood seems to be relentless. While common foods like blueberries, avocados, and salmon have earned this title due to their widespread availability in supermarkets, it appears that for an ingredient to achieve superfood status, it often needs to be exotic and relatively unfamiliar to American consumers, along with boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma checks all of those boxes. Although popular in its native Peru, most U.S. shoppers wouldn’t be able to identify it in a lineup, much less pronounce its name. In addition to being nutrient-rich, lucuma has a flavor reminiscent of maple, which is currently a trendy taste. It seems that lucuma might be poised to dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, lucuma’s main hurdle is its scarcity in the U.S. Even if an enthusiastic foodie stumbles upon a lucuma ice cream recipe on Pinterest, finding fresh lucuma to dice would be quite a challenge. The powdered version, which is more readily available, may ultimately carve out a space for this ingredient in the market. In contrast, kale enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to its presence at farmer’s markets. It’s relatively easy to cultivate across various U.S. climates and is affordable. As consumer demand for kale rose, it was a straightforward task for U.S. farmers to adjust their crop selections to satisfy that desire.
While lucuma might offer versatility in a range of sweet and savory dishes, its cultivation in the U.S. may prove difficult, or it could be too costly to import, limiting 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 faced challenges in gaining traction. Despite their impressive nutritional content, they haven’t resonated with consumers, possibly due to availability issues or flavor preferences.
Just as “superfood” status is not easily attained, achieving the same level of recognition requires a confluence of factors. For instance, products like rugby calcium citrate with vitamin D3 are gaining attention for their health benefits, but they also face the challenge of standing out in a crowded market. As with lucuma, the journey to superfood acclaim is fraught with obstacles, and it remains to be seen which ingredients will ultimately capture the public’s imagination and palate.