The quest for the next big superfood appears to be a never-ending pursuit. While more familiar items such as blueberries, avocados, and salmon have already earned this title, they are relatively easy to find in grocery stores. For an ingredient to be deemed a superfood, it often needs to be exotic, somewhat unfamiliar to U.S. consumers, and boast an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits all these criteria. Although this fruit is well-known in its native Peru, many shoppers in the U.S. might struggle to identify it or even pronounce its name correctly. Nutritionally, lucuma is a powerhouse, and its flavor resembles maple, which is currently a trendy taste. This raises the possibility that lucuma could potentially dethrone kale as the reigning superfood.
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, finding fresh lucuma to chop up would be quite difficult. The powdered version, which is more readily available, might be where lucuma finds its niche. In contrast, kale was easily accessible at farmer’s markets when it gained popularity. It is simple to cultivate across various U.S. regions and relatively inexpensive. As consumer demand for kale surged, U.S. farmers could readily adjust their crops to meet this interest.
While lucuma may offer versatility in numerous sweet and savory dishes, its cultivation on American soil may be too challenging or costly to import, hindering its potential for widespread consumer appeal. Other potential superfoods, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also possess the traits needed to achieve this esteemed status but have not gained traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, they have not resonated with consumers, possibly due to availability issues or flavor preferences.
In the realm of nutrition, products like bariatric advantage chewable calcium could complement these superfoods, adding to their health benefits. However, like many coveted labels, the term “superfood” is not easily attained, and lucuma, despite its promise, may find it challenging to secure a spot alongside other popular choices unless it becomes more accessible to consumers.