Brazilian Açaí Without the Californian Fuss

BY TAMARA PALMER

San Francisco açaí bowl purveyor Cuia stands out from the local pack by sticking close to Brazilian tradition and not blending the frozen fruit with sweeter fruits, milks and juices to make them more palatable to Californian palates. You can still go crazy with sweet toppings, like strawberries, bananas and honey, but there’s something so satisfying about having a base that is less sweet (and this is coming from the biggest sugar fiend you know).

Cuia, which is run by a Brazilian expatriate and former high-level swimmer who competed against Michael Phelps in the Olympics, operates out of a kiosk at 1 Market Street, but I think you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from this company in the near future.

Obsessed.

Cuia Açaí, 1 Market Street, San Francisco