Trying açaí at Oakberry Jerusalem: A not-so-sweet treat with sweet company - review

If you love that distinct açaí tang, you’ll probably walk away thrilled. If you’re more of a milkshake-and-cookies person like me, temper your expectations for the bowl itself.

Full disclosure: I had never had açaí before in my life. So when Oakberry Açaí opened its Jerusalem location on Agrippas Street, I made sure to bring an expert with me: my friend and colleague Goldie, who actually knows what she’s talking about when it comes to this stuff.

Before even trying the food, the location alone makes the trip worth it.

We ended up spending most of our visit just sitting, chatting, and people-watching, and that alone made for a genuinely lovely afternoon. Sometimes the best part of trying something new isn’t the thing itself; it’s who you’re sitting with when you try it.

As for the açaí: going in blind, it really wasn’t for me. I’m a known sweet tooth, and I don’t know if it was just this place or açaí in general, but in my amateur, first-timer opinion, açaí tastes like medicine. Tart, earthy, and not exactly what I was expecting from something so hyped up on social media. I will say, though, the toppings saved it. Oakberry has options like granola, fresh fruit, and a drizzle of something sweet on top. Those I enjoyed without hesitation.

If you love that distinct açaí tang, you’ll probably walk away thrilled

In Goldie’s much more informed opinion as a certified enjoyer of açaí... yeah, it could’ve been sweeter. But she did finish her cup, and I do know that not everyone needs the amount of sugar I do to get through the day.

This is very much a “know yourself” situation. If you love that distinct açaí tang, you’ll probably walk away thrilled. If you’re more of a milkshake-and-cookies person like me, temper your expectations on the bowl itself.

But again, what made the visit worth it was the bustling energy and movement of the city that Agrippas offers. Goldie and I stayed far longer than we planned to, and neither of us minded one bit.

So, would I recommend Oakberry? For the açaí itself, I’ll defer to Goldie’s expertise. For the experience of sitting there with good company on a nice day in Jerusalem? Absolutely, without hesitation.