Trend Capturing Both Sensibility and Health: Acai Bowl
In recent years, consumer food culture has shifted beyond mere taste
to consider both health and visual satisfaction.
One of the centerpiece menus at the forefront is the 'Acai Bowl'.
The Power of the Healthy Superfood: Acai Berry
The key ingredient of the Acai Bowl, acai berry,
is a tropical berry native to the Amazon region of Brazil,
often called the 'fruit of life' due to its rich nutritional profile.
Notably, its high anthocyanin content is recognized
for protecting cells from free radicals
and potentially having a positive impact on anti-aging.
In fact, the anthocyanin in acai berry is
33 times more than regular grapes and 6 times more than blueberries,
making it valuable in the field of antioxidant research.
Moreover, acai berries are composed of 82% unsaturated fatty acids,
which can aid cardiovascular health,
and are rich in dietary fiber, beneficial for appetite control and maintaining satiety.
Visual Strategy Reflecting Young Consumer Tastes
The popularity of acai bowls is not solely based on health.
Its captivating purple color and
diverse toppings maximize visual satisfaction,
stimulating the 'eating sensibility'.
With toppings like banana, blueberry, coconut chips, granola,
the combination considers both nutrition and texture,
and its appeal can be conveyed through just one picture
being diversely shared across social media (SNS).
Many consumers in the MZ generation believe
that "pretty desserts are themselves a piece of content",
viewing acai bowls not just as food
but as a lifestyle element.
The Spreading Power of the Trend Across the Industry
This trend is having a direct impact
on the dining industry as a whole.
According to the <2025 Dining Industry Trend Vol.1> report by Baedal Minjok,
mentions of acai bowls on SNS since early this year
increased by 4.2 times from the previous year and 5.3 times from 2023,
with YouTube views nearing 240,000.
As a result, major dessert brands,
as well as franchise cafes and global brands,
are rushing to add acai bowls as new menu items to respond to the market.
For example, 'Yogajeong', which aims for plant-based desserts, last month
unveiled its signature acai bowl,
while major brand 'Mega Coffee' also introduced
new acai bowl products early in the year to increase public accessibility.
On the other hand, the overseas brand 'Acai Purple'
has opened flagship stores in key areas of Seoul, gaining attention
for its global presence in this trend.
Rapidly Spreading in Local Markets Too
This phenomenon is impacting not only major cities but also locally-based shops.
The newly opened brunch cafe 'Famous Benny' in Seongsan-gu, Changwon City,
is prominently featuring Australian-style acai bowls,
and it shows a high rate of repeat visits
among both local consumers and foreign visitors.
Notably, foreign players from the Gyeongnam FC
are reportedly visiting regularly,
demonstrating how foreign culture and health trends
are influencing local consumer behavior.
Expectation for Sustainable Food Culture
The change brought about by acai bowls conveys not just a trend
but a message of 'meaningful consumer choices'.
Acai bowls, integrating taste, health, environment, and visual satisfaction,
are likely to establish themselves as a new standard in food culture moving forward.
This trend has significant implications for the cosmetics industry as well.
Just as the approach focusing on ingredients
that consider not only external beauty
but also skin health is becoming a consumer standard.
The '3-minute home care routine a day' for skin health also
aligns with such multi-faceted value-seeking trends of modern consumers.
Interest in 'healthy beauty' will continue to expand
in both the food and beauty industries.
The acai bowl, filled with vibrant colors and various nutrients, is establishing itself as a popular menu item among modern consumers. This trend suggests a direction considering both health and beauty for the cosmetics industry as well.
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