Magical Superfoods

As the finally-mellowing pomegranate craze has shown us, the path to salvation is paved with antioxidants. A raft of quasi-mystical, vaguely foreign-sounding “superfoods” vied to depose King Pom this year, among them goji berries, açaí berries, yerba mate, and white tea. They showed up in products ranging from cocktails to flavored tea bags, chocolate bars, and refreshing bottled beverages, accompanied by various health claims, some of which were actually documented. If flavor is a factor in these items’ popularity (and it’s not clear that it is), the chocolaty-tasting açaí berry gets CHOW’s vote. We like it Brazilian surfer style: the pulp mashed up and frozen as a sorbet, served with bananas and granola (in what’s known as an açaí bowl). —Lessley Anderson