Generally, an absorbent composite comprising between about 20% and about 80% by weight of the particulate superabsorbent material and between about 20% and 80% by weight of a swellable absorbent fiber is disclosed herein. The swellable absorbent fiber is substantially water-insoluble and water-swellable and a centrifuge retention capacity of between 5 and 20 grams per gram after four hours and reaches at least 66% of centrifuge retention capacity between about 2 and about 50 seconds.