A brand-new Açai store is set to open this Saturday in Edinburgh city centre.
Oakberry Açai, specialising in the health food, will soon open on Leith Street, as part of the St James Quarter, offering a healthy alternative to fast food.
The store, which is run by local sisters Zulaica & Tania Yusaf, is the first Oakberry in Scotland and will give away 100 free bowls on Saturday 19th when they open, with discounts thereafter.
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Zulaica said: “We see this as not just food, but a lifestyle thing. Fewer people are going out partying and drinking, and more are focusing on health and wellbeing.”
Oakberry Açai will open on Leith Street as part of the St James Quarter
“Açai is for everyone… we can see people going for a run, yoga or Pilates and then stopping by for an Açai Bowl or a Matcha.”
The ‘works’ size bowl I tried contained strawberries, banana, bee pollen, kiwi and countless more toppings which created a layered experience. Each spoonful had something new and delicious.
The new store will also sell matcha, another product which has garnered huge popularity recently.
Once only the preserve of China, Japan (and Islington), matcha has become a nationwide craze in recent years, with many saying it reduces stress and acts as a better stimulant than coffee.
The chain operates over now has over 900 stores worldwide
Having never tried it, I grabbed a strawberry matcha at Oakberry, which went down an absolute treat. Whilst not giving the same hit of caffeine you get from an Americano, it was reviving but without the later ‘crash’ when the caffeine wore off.
Açai, pronounced like the Japanese beer, is a berry that grows on Açai palm trees in the Amazon rainforest. The berries have become popular for smoothies due to their high nutritional content.
Oakberry was founded in 2016 and now has over 900 stores more than 40 countries. The store will sell açaí bowls, smoothies, matcha, coffee, and porridge.
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