Camu Camu, Myrciaria dubia

Camu-Camu - ideal source of vitamin C

Myrciaria dubia, one of the most vitamin C-rich plants on earth

Camu Camu (Myrciaria dubia) is a white flowering shrub from the Myrtle family of plants, which grows in the west Amazon area, in particularly in Peru and Brazil.

The Camu Camu fruit is a spherical berry ranging from10 to 40 mm in diameter and is red to violet in colour often with two cores. Along with the Acerola cherry the Camu Camu is ranked among the plants with the highest vitamin C content in the world and has an unusually high concentration of secondary plant substances.

Effects

  • Due to the fact that the human body cannot produce vitamin C itself, it is important to make sure that we have a regular intake of vitamin C.
  • Camu-Camu is an ideal form of vitamin C, which along with Acerola counts as the fruit with the most vitamin C.
  • Unlike Acerola cherries, Camu Camu berries can be made into 100 % pure fruit powder without any other additions.

Frequently asked questions about Camu-Camu

Camu-Camu harvest, wild growth, overexploitation, effect and taste of Camu-Camu

Acerola and Camu-Camu fruit powder with natural vitamin C

Due to the strong increase in the need for vitamin C since the Corona outbreak, there has been a real boom in vitamin products. It can be observed that more and more suppliers offer acerola or camu camu fruit powders as purely natural, although they are enriched with synthetic vitamin C.

This is often due to ignorance or concealment, which is difficult for the consumer to recognise.

Our organic acerola and organic camu-camu products contain only natural vitamin C from the fruit itself, i.e. no synthetic vitamin C added.

Other names for Camu-Camu

The camu camu plant belongs to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). In Brazil the fruit is also called "Caçari" or "Araçá de água", in other countries the camu-camu fruit is also known as "Bayberry Fruit" or "Rumberry".

Cultivation of Camu-Camu, Harvest

In the western Brazilian and Peruvian Amazon, the camu camu bushes grow directly on the banks of the river. Only from a boat can the fruits be harvested twice a year - between November and January and March and May - when the water level is favourable, which is very laborious and limited in time. In order to meet the increasing demand and to guarantee a relatively good availability, our Peruvian partner additionally plants more accessible bushes a little further inland.

Ingredients of the Camu-Camu Fruit, Vitamin C, Designation as a Superfood

Camu camu is considered a superfood because of its extraordinarily high vitamin C content, which accounts for 2-3% of the fresh weight of harvested camu camu fruit. In contrast to oranges, the small Camu-Camu fruit contains about 40 times the vitamin C. Our camu camu powder is obtained from the whole fruit and contains 8-10% vitamin C as well as other vitamins such as vitamin B, important minerals and a wide range of secondary plant substances. These flavonoids are among the most important mediator substances that ensure that vitamin C is optimally absorbed by the body.

Camu camu fruits consist of about 80% fruit flesh and 20% seeds. In this natural composition, i.e. pulp and seeds, all important nutrients are contained and should not be separated. Our camu camu powder is therefore made from the whole fruit, which has the highest bioavailability.

Comparison of Acerola with Camu-Camu

Both fruits contain natural vitamin C - acerola between 17% - 30% (depending on the concentration of the fruit) and camu-camu powder between 3 - 10%. Our acerola powder is offered as freeze-dried powder with the carrier maltodextrin or as freeze-dried powder without carrier, i.e. 100% pure. Camu camu powder is also produced without a carrier, with a vitamin C content of approx. 8 - 10%, depending on the harvest.

Does AMAZONAS Camu-Camu come from wild growth or organic cultivation?

Our Camu-Camu berries come from wild growth and organic cultivation, this combination is important in order not to completely harvest the wild growing fruits, which would be equivalent to an extermination of this valuable plant.

Which degree of ripeness of the fruits is used in AMAZONAS Camu-Camu?

Ripe and unripe fruits are used in a balanced perfect ratio.

What is camu camu powder with seed content?

Camu-Camu fruits consist of about 80 % fruit flesh and 20 % seeds. In this natural composition, i.e. pulp and seeds together, all important nutrients are contained and should not be separated. Our camu camu powder is therefore made from the whole fruit, which has the highest bioavailability.

Why is AMAZONAS Camu-Camu only available in bulk?

Due to its extreme taste, ranging from sour to bitter, most of our customers prefer acerola powder for direct consumption as a source of vitamins. For this reason, we currently only offer Camu-Camu in bulk for producers who process the powder in other products.

However, we also offer Camu-Camu powder in 1 kg bags to end customers. Please ask us directly.

Problems with overexploitation of wild growing shrubs

There are cultivation projects in Peru to stop the overexploitation of wild camu camu plants so that fish species such as the tambaquí, which feed on the fruit, do not disappear.

Effect of Camu-Camu

Just like acerola, camu-camu serves as an ideal source of vitamin C. Due to its high bioavailability, the vitamin C is actually absorbed by the body and not immediately excreted, as is the case with isolated ascorbic acid.

Flavour of Camu-Camu

Camu-Camu is fruity-sour and reminiscent of a lemon with a slightly bitter note.

Application of Camu-Camu

The powder can be used in all food supplements or offered as a pure vitamin C supplier.

Dosage of Camu-Camu

1 g powder (1/2 teaspoon) = approx. 100 mg vitamin C daily in muesli, yoghurt, fruit salad or in any drink (water, fruit or vegetable juice).

Origin

We obtain our Camu Camu from the western Amazon region, especially from Peru and Brazil.