Since prehistoric times, for the peoples of the Amazon, açaí was a fruit consumed and very important in their diet. The name of the açaí tree is derived from the daughter of a chief of the Amazon tribe, Iacá.
Legend has it that a period of scarcity occurred, and the tribe’s population was dwindling due to a famine, risking extinction due to continuous growth in population.
Because of this situation, the tribe chief, Itaki, with the council’s approval, ordered that from that moment on, every boy or girl born had to be sacrificed. One day, his daughter became pregnant and gave birth to a girl, who, despite Iacá’s prayers, faced the same fate as other babies.
After the girl’s death, Iacá locked himself in his hut, asking the god Tupá to enlighten the village chief so he would find another solution to the problem and prevent further child sacrifices.
One night, Iacá heard the crying of a child, followed it, and reached a palm tree, where he saw his daughter. He rushed to embrace her, but upon touching her, he realized he was only hugging the palm tree and he began to cry, overwhelmed with great sadness.
