Ягода макі

Aristotelia chilensis is a small dioecious evergreen tree that can reach 4 to 5 metres in height. The tree flowers at the end of spring, and the white flowers are unisexual and small. The berries contain 4 to 8 angled seeds. The fruit tastes similar to blackberries.

Origin and Production

It is found naturally in Chilean rainforests. Its native range spans the area between the Coquimbo and Aysén regions of Chile. The berries are collected from wild plants from December to March of each year by families, mainly Mapuche, who collect their harvest near the Andes Mountains. The Mapuche are a group of Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. Most of the fruits on the market have been gathered from the wild. Aristotelia chilensis is planted in home gardens and is not grown on an orchard scale. The stored fruits are sold in local markets, with prices ranging from $6.5 to $15 per kilogram. Maqui berries are a favored food for birds at the end of summer.

Chemistry

Polyphenol research on maqui berries showed anthocyanin content to include eight glucoside pigments of delphinidin and cyanidin. The principal anthocyanin is delphinidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucoside, at 34% of total anthocyanins. Research identified 19 polyphenolic compounds in maqui: eight anthocyanins, ten flavonols and ellagic acid. The fruit provides 150 calories per 100 g of product and has a low protein content and a high fiber content. Anthocyanins have been reported in maqui leaves, and the alkaloids aristoteline, aristoquinoline and aristone were extracted from the leaves.