Every Brand Needs a Logo...

We returned from our first trip to the Amazon full of inspiration and low on cash. Knowing that our new company was in need of a logo, a dear friend of ours introduced us to two of his talented buddies one a DJ, the other a DJ and graffiti artist; both, self-taught graphic designers.

We spent some time with the dynamic duo recounting stories of our journey through Brazil and did our best to convey the ephemeral aspects of the Amazon and newfound obsession with açaí.

We explained that while on a tour through the Amazon forest we learned that sales of açaí fruit were more profitable to its inhabitants than selling less sustainable forest goods and that we’d decided to name the company SAMBAZON to memorialize our intention, i.e., the Sustainable Management of the Brazilian Amazon via market driven conservation.

Although we’d decided on a name (albeit long and somewhat tricky to pronounce), we offered the guys little more than the two adjectives: mystery & power. After several iterations, the Sambazon logo was born.

We’ve come to view the warrior in our logo as the protector of the forest. His stoic expression reminds us to remain steadfast through challenges and the beams of light emanating from around him represent the light that shines within each of us.


With Love & Devotion,

-skanda

Recipe: The Kale + Pineapple Bowl

Spring means tons of fresh leafy greens... at your local supermarket, in your CSA basket, or from your garden. I'm a big fan of kale, chard and collards (my new found favorite). So, with all this goodness floating around, I decided to make a fresh greens bowl this morning for breakfast with a handful of kale from my garden, although this would taste great with any leafy green you have around.



The Kale + Pineapple Bowl

2 Sambazon Original Açaí Smoothie Packs
1 Banana (half for blending, half for topping)
4-5 Leaves of kale
1/4 Cup pineapple (frozen or fresh)
A splash of apple juice (a little goes a long way)



Chop up your smoothie packs. The easiest way is to slice them in the middle then bend in half and squeeze them out. Then make sure you recycle them!





Blend everything up, top with half of the banana and Manitoba Harvest hemp seeds. Cheers to being a greenie!

Acai Cheesecake

We all crave just a tiny bit of decadence here and there… So here’s the cure. Açaí cheesecake combines the creaminess of homemade cheesecake with a hint of açaí. Its delish, easy to make (although make it on your weekend as it needs to bake for a long time), and sure to impress.

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick unsalted butter, melted

3 packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 egg yolk, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 Sambazon Original Açaí Smoothie Pack, thawed in a bowl of water till liquid

Preheat oven to 350F, with rack in the center.

Stir graham crackers and butter. Press into 8-or9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes or until golden, then let cool completely.

Reduce oven temperature to 200F.

Mix cream cheese and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer using paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until lightened, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs and egg yolk, 1 at a time, sour cream and then vanilla extract and mix till smooth. Pour over crust in pan.



Drop acai puree over filling in a random pattern. Using a skewer, swirl decoratively.



Bake for 2 hours 30 minutes. Turn off the oven; let cheesecake remain in oven another 1 hour. Remove cheesecake from oven. Run a knife around top edge of cake to loosen and cool completely in springform pan on a rack. Chill cake, loosely covered for at least 6 hours. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to a plate.