The pursuit of the next big superfood seems to be an ongoing quest, with ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate frequently mentioned in discussions. While more familiar foods like blueberries, avocados, and salmon hold this title, they are easily accessible in supermarkets. For an ingredient to achieve superfood status, it typically needs to be exotic and relatively unknown to American consumers, alongside boasting an impressive nutritional profile. Lucuma fits this description perfectly. Although it is a well-known fruit in its native Peru, most shoppers in the U.S. would struggle to identify or even pronounce it. Furthermore, lucuma is a nutrient powerhouse and has a flavor reminiscent of maple, which is currently trending. This suggests that lucuma could potentially dethrone kale from its superfood pedestal.
However, the primary challenge lucuma faces is its scarcity in the U.S. Even if a curious foodie wanted to try a lucuma ice cream recipe they found on Pinterest, finding fresh lucuma would be quite difficult. The powdered form of lucuma, which is more readily available, may ultimately be where this ingredient carves out its niche. In contrast, kale gained popularity through farmers’ markets and is relatively easy to cultivate across various U.S. regions, making it affordable. As consumer demand for kale surged, U.S. farmers could easily adjust their crops to accommodate this trend.
While lucuma can be incorporated into a variety of sweet and savory recipes, it might be challenging to grow commercially in the U.S. or too expensive to import, which could hinder its potential to captivate consumers. Other contenders for superfood status, such as tiger nuts and moringa, also meet the necessary criteria but have not gained traction. Despite their impressive nutritional benefits, they have struggled to resonate with consumers—possibly due to availability or flavor preferences. Achieving the coveted “superfood” label is not an easy feat, much like the search for the ideal jamp calcium citrate product that meets all expectations.