What Is Cupuaçu? Meet Brazil’s National Fruit—and Chocolate’s Tropical Cousin

At Figa Foods, we’re on a mission to bring bold, beautiful flavors from Brazil to the modern American palate. And it all starts with one extraordinary ingredient: cupuaçu (pronounced coo-pu-ah-soo).

You might not have heard of it (yet), but in Brazil, cupuaçu is a beloved staple—used in everything from juices to desserts. And if you've bought Hailey Beiber's Rhode Lip Gloss or Sol de Janeiro products you may have already experiences cupuaçu butter in your beauty products. Now, we’re introducing it to the U.S. in a whole new way.

So... what exactly is cupuaçu?

Cupuaçu is a tropical fruit that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest, often right alongside cacao, açaí, and bananas. It’s part of the same plant family as cacao (yes, the one chocolate comes from), and its seeds can be used to create a smooth, rich, chocolate-style bar with its own signature flavor.

What does cupuaçu taste like?

The fruit has a banana-like texture and a tart, tropical taste. We like to say it tastes like if a pineapple met a banana in the form of a sour patch kid. You can experience the dried fruit on the top of our fruity bar.

The seeds on the other hand, are a totally different experience. If chocolate went on vacation in the tropics, it would taste like this. Cupuaçu has a naturally creamy, velvety texture and a flavor profile that's totally unique: think rich cocoa notes with bright hints of citrus, pineapple, and caramel.

It’s indulgent, complex, and unlike anything else on the shelf.

Is cupuaçu good for you?

Yes—and not just for you. Cupuaçu is rich in antioxidants, inflammation fighting compounds, and healthy fats. Plus, it's naturally dairy-free and caffeine-free.

But the benefits go beyond nutrition. At Figa, we use upcycled cupuaçu seeds—a part of the fruit that’s usually discarded—to create our bars. That means less food waste, more sustainable sourcing, and better support for the small regenerative farms in Brazil that we work with.

Why hasn’t cupuaçu been in the U.S. before?

Great question. We were wondering too. We’ve spent time speaking to researchers, farmers, fermentation experts, chocolate industry titans, chefs and even spoke to a monkey (just kidding). Cupuaçu is a lot less researched than cacao and the two main reasons we've come to learn is 1) no one can make it taste good (until us) and 2) there isn't a robust supply chain in place for the seeds to be used in the form of a chocolatey bar (which we are creating).  We are working on the ground to build direct relationships with farmers and investing in ethical sourcing and small-batch production. That’s how we’re able to introduce this incredible fruit to the U.S. for the first time in chocolate-style bar form.

Say olá to your new favorite superfruit

Our Figa Cupuaçu Bars are made with just three simple ingredients, sweetened only with dates, and topped with delicious flavors like sea salt and the dried cupuaçu fruit. They’re the perfect amount of sweet, plant-based, decadent, and totally craveable.

Whether you're into chocolate, curious about new superfoods, or just want a better-for-you treat that actually tastes good—cupuaçu is about to be your new obsession. Get yours at figafoods.com