The quest for the next big superfood appears to be never-ending. While more familiar foods such as blueberries, avocados, and salmon hold this title, they are widely recognized and easily found in supermarkets. For an ingredient to gain superfood status, it seems it must be both exotic and relatively unknown to American consumers, in addition to boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits this criteria perfectly. Although this fruit is well-loved in its native Peru, most shoppers in the U.S. wouldn’t even recognize it, let alone know how to pronounce its name. With a rich array of nutrients, lucuma also offers a delightful maple-like flavor, which is currently on-trend. It appears that lucuma could potentially dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, lucuma’s greatest hurdle is its limited availability in the U.S. Even if an adventurous foodie discovers a lucuma ice cream recipe on Pinterest, finding fresh lucuma to use can be quite a challenge. The powdered form, which is more easily accessible, may ultimately be where this ingredient finds its niche. In contrast, kale became popular in the U.S. partly because it was readily available at farmers’ markets. Its ease of cultivation across various U.S. zones and low cost made it simple for farmers to adjust their crops to meet consumer demand.
While lucuma may offer versatility in both sweet and savory dishes, it might be too challenging to cultivate domestically or too expensive to import, hindering its potential to capture consumer enthusiasm. Other contenders for superfood status, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also meet the necessary criteria but have struggled to gain traction. Despite their impressive nutritional profiles, they have yet to resonate with consumers, possibly due to availability issues or flavors that don’t appeal.
In the world of superfoods, the term “superfood” is not easily attained. For those seeking nutritional benefits, options like Citracal Slow Release 1200 can provide a beneficial supplement, but they lack the allure and exotic appeal of a fruit like lucuma. Ultimately, while lucuma has the potential to flourish as a superfood, it faces significant obstacles that may keep it from becoming the next household name.