Acaiá (also known as Acaia Cerrado) is a rare variety found mainly in Brazil. Its name reportedly means “great fruit” in the Tupi-Guarani language. It appears somewhat frequently in Cup of Excellence lots but isn’t seen all that much elsewhere.
Acaiá is a natural mutation of the Mundo Novo (itself a Typica and Bourbon hybrid). It has adapted well to the Brazilian climate and growing conditions, and it seems to do less well when tried in other areas.
The variety seems to prosper better at or above 800 metres above sea level. The tree develops in a triangular shape which enables it to capture sun homogeneously. Other benefits are its high productivity, general resilience, and adaptability to mechanical harvesting. Some drawbacks, however, are that it is susceptible to all the ‘usual suspects’ of coffee tree diseases and to pests.
