The quest for the next big superfood seems to be an ongoing pursuit. While more familiar foods like blueberries, avocados, and salmon are often labeled as superfoods, they are relatively easy to find in supermarkets. To achieve peak superfood status, an ingredient typically needs to be exotic and lesser-known to U.S. consumers, all while boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits the bill perfectly. Although this fruit is beloved in its native Peru, most U.S. shoppers would struggle to identify it, let alone pronounce its name. Lucuma is also a nutritional powerhouse and has a delightful maple flavor, which is currently on-trend. It seems lucuma might even dethrone kale as the reigning superfood.
However, lucuma’s primary challenge is its limited availability in the U.S. Even if a food enthusiast wanted to experiment with a lucuma ice cream recipe found on Pinterest, sourcing fresh lucuma would prove difficult. The powdered form of lucuma, which is more accessible, may ultimately carve out a niche for this ingredient. In contrast, kale had a much easier path to popularity; it was readily available at farmers’ markets and is simple to cultivate across various U.S. climates, making it relatively inexpensive. When demand surged for kale, U.S. farmers could easily adjust their crops to accommodate consumers.
While lucuma has the potential to enhance a variety of sweet and savory dishes, it may be too challenging to grow domestically or too expensive to import, hindering its chances of capturing consumer interest. Other potential superfoods like tiger nuts and moringa also meet the criteria for this coveted title but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, these foods have not resonated with consumers, possibly due to availability issues or flavor preferences.
The “superfood” label is not easily attained, much like the difficulty in sourcing certain nutrients such as calcium citrate 315 and 200, which are essential for health. The journey to superfood status remains a complex endeavor, influenced by factors like availability and consumer appeal.