Acai bowl or smoothie bowl: call it what you like, here's 5 to try

Yes, the smoothie bowl is a thing and, depending on what it’s made of - it could be chocolatey cacao or nutrient-dense pitaya (aka dragonfruit) - you’re more likely to see it on the menu as an acai bowl. Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is a berry native to South America that has earned superstar status in the world of superfoods for being a rich source of antioxidants.

The smoothie component - which is generally healthy stuff such as acai or pitaya blended with frozen fruit - is poured into a bowl, thick enough to be easily eaten with a spoon, and topped with a mix of fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, muesli, goji berries and, if they’re really trying to pretty it up, edible flowers, too. Expect to pay around the $15 to $20 mark.

Ground Floor in Hunter Street Mall claims to be the first cafe in Newcastle to introduce acai in 2013.

“Acai bowls and smoothies are incredibly popular,” owner Jordan Mizrahi says. “People are becoming more educated about the benefits of superfoods - our bowls and smoothies are not only healthy, they are also refreshingly delicious.”

You’ll feel healthier just by ordering one. Here are five places to try a smoothie, or acai, bowl:

103 Hunter Street, Newcastle The long-running cafe on the corner of Newcomen Street has four bowls to choose from. Their most popular acai bowl is topped with honey-spiced muesli and served with banana and strawberry (spelt muesli can be substituted for vegans), then customers have the option of adding hemp seeds and a variety of other fruit on top. Nutella or peanut butter can also be added for a sweeter finish. They also offer an acai smoothie blended with coconut water and banana.

Shop 5 113-125, Darby Street, Cooks Hill Tucked in near the car park behind Darby Raj on Darby Street, this clothing shop/cafe specialises in smoothie bowls. Since brothers Nathan and Jacob Pepper launched the store in 2015, bowls have remained their main menu item. They recently introduced new vegan-friendly options including a watermelon bowl and coco bowl.

41 Vincent Street, Cessnock  There are two to choose from: acai served with house-made granola and fresh fruit, or the pitaya topped with mango, pear, dragonfruit, passionfruit, chia seeds and coconut. Owner Gerald Morillo is South American and grew up with acai in his diet. “Our acai is in a puree form which is made after the berries have been picked and dried. We use the organic version, which is also sugar free.” Mr O’s also sell Acaiwhip, which is a soft serve based on coconut water.

142 Pacific Road, Charlestown Mama-P’s ethos is all about serving up tasty and nutritious wholefoods. They’re specialists in raw desserts but offer a full cafe menu too (which is all plant-based) that includes four smoothie bowls - there’s Acai (frozen banana, seasonal berries, organic coconut milk, topped with fruit, vegan granola and edible flowers), as well as Tropicana (mango, pineapple, passionfruit, frozen banana and coconut milk blended); Green Peace (banana, kale, baby spinach, avocado, supergreens powder and coconut milk blended), or Snickers (frozen banana, raw chocolate, house-made peanut butter, vanilla bean, dates and almond milk). All four can be made into traditional smoothies. Extras such as hemp seeds, pea protein and organic greens can also be added.

NEWCASTLE BEACH - 42 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle If there’s one thing better than an acai bowl, it’s an acai bowl with a view. If you can resist the temptation of fish and chips, try one of the kiosk’s bowls. Using acai blend and seasonal fruit, the bowl is topped with Morpeth Bakery muesli and toasted coconut. The second option, the Sunrise Bowl, has muesli, yoghurt of almond milk, fresh fruit, chia pudding and agave.

Other venues worth noting for their acai bowl offerings include Cornerhouse Cafe, Cooks Hill; Sanbah Grindhouse, Newcastle; Momo Wholefoods, Newcastle; Blue Door, Merewether; Raw Energy, Honeysuckle; Liquid Gold, Newcastle Beach; Sherwood Coffee Bar, Newcastle; Akuna Cafe, Merewether; Buzz, The Junction; Top Juice, Westfield Kotara; Seed Cafe, Swansea; Cafe 2283, Toronto; The Whistler, Maitland; The Village Newcastle, Hamilton; The Natures Cafe, Mayfield; Laneway on Darby, Cooks Hill; Canon Food Bar Espresso, Warners Bay.