Camu Camu vs Other Vitamin C Fruits: Orange, Acerola, Kiwi and More, Compared

In the flooded forests of the Peruvian Amazon, the camu camu harvest happens by canoe. When the rivers rise, the shrubs along the banks stand waist-deep in brown water, and pickers paddle between them, plucking marble-sized fruit that ripens from green to wine-red. Bite one and your whole face puckers: it is sourer than a lemon. That sourness is a clue to the number this article is about.

The short answer: Gram for gram, camu camu is one of the most vitamin C-dense fruits on record. One teaspoon of our Organic Camu Camu Powder provides 760% of the Daily Value for vitamin C (about 684 mg), and 2 capsules provide 200 mg (222% DV). For comparison, a medium orange has about 70 mg (USDA FoodData Central). Acerola is the closest rival among common fruits.

What is camu camu?

Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) is a small shrub that grows along rivers and oxbow lakes in the Amazon basin, including Peru's Loreto and Ucayali regions. The fruit is too tart to eat out of hand, so in Iquitos it turns up in juices, sorbets and sweetened drinks. Most of the world meets it as a dried powder.

How much vitamin C does camu camu have compared with other fruits?

Here are typical per-serving values. Fresh fruit figures are from USDA FoodData Central; camu camu figures are from our Supplement and Nutrition Facts panels. The Daily Value for vitamin C is 90 mg.

The takeaway: one level teaspoon of camu camu powder carries roughly the vitamin C of nine to ten oranges. Fresh acerola is the closest fruit match, but it is rarely sold fresh outside the tropics.

Camu camu vs acerola: which is better?

Both are tart, red, tropical fruits famous for vitamin C. Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) grows on Caribbean and Brazilian farms; camu camu grows wild-style along Amazon riverbanks. As dried powders, they are used the same way. Choose by taste, sourcing and what is on the label: we offer camu camu as a single ingredient, with no maltodextrin, fillers or added color.

Why is real camu camu powder tan, not pink?

Whole-fruit camu camu powder is naturally tan to beige. Bright pink powders often come from juice concentrates dried onto a carrier such as maltodextrin. In this short clip, a creator opens one of our capsules to show the powder inside:

How do you use camu camu powder in place of fresh fruit?

• Orange-juice swap: stir 1 tsp into a glass of water with a squeeze of lime and a little honey.
• Smoothie: add 1 tsp to mango, pineapple and banana. The tropical fruits balance the tartness.
• Yogurt bowl: dust it over yogurt and berries like a sour sherbet.
• No-cook use: add it to chilled or room-temperature foods rather than baking it.

More ideas in camu camu powder: taste and how to use it.

Capsules or powder: which camu camu format fits you?

Capsules (120 per bottle, 60 servings) are the no-taste option for travel and busy mornings. The powder (8 oz, 45 servings) is for people who like to blend. Both are certified organic camu camu and nothing else; capsules use a vegan pullulan shell. Comparing brands? Read how to choose camu camu capsules.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.