This round orange fruit starts with not just one, but two "c's" for a reason.  Camu-camu has the highest recorded amount of naturally occurring vitamin C known on the planet.  Compared to orange's 500-4000 ppm and acerola's 16,000-172,000 ppm, camu-camu has up to 500,000 ppm.

Plus it brings with the C a whole host of nutrients.  Camu-camu contains significant amounts of iron, niacin, riboflavin, phosphorus and potassium.  Its minerals and amino acids have been linked to helping with absorption of C, multiplying the C your body gets from it.

While the research on humans is limited, one recent study of 20 men who smoked showed dramatic reduction in oxidative stress markers and inflammatory markers after 7 days of taking a daily dose of 70 ml camu-camu juice.  Interestingly, in the group of study participants taking the equivalent amount of vitamin C without the camu-camu juice, these changes in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were not noted.

Its rich vitamin C content with its complement of other nutrients, makes it a wonderful addition to immune support supplements, heart health support, drink mixes and more.  Its sour acidic taste has kept it out of the traditional menu, but newly introduced camu-camu drinks and ice creams are starting to take off in parts of Peru.  Additionally it has been used topically for generations to support healthy wound healing and for general skin care.

Camu-camu fruit grows on a shrub that likes the swampy areas of the Amazon.  Since the fruit ripens during the flooding seasons, it's traditionally wildharvested from canoes.

Sources:

Halliday, J. Superfruit Flavors Get Even More Exotic. Nutraingredients 2007. Retrieved February 11 from http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/Superfruit-flavours-get-ever-more-exotic

Inoue T, et al. Tropical fruit camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. J Cardiol. 2008 Oct; 52(2): 127-32.

Taylor, L. The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs. Garden City Park, NY: Square One Publishing, 2005