Game Changers…

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:29:00 +0000

Not sure why but 2011 feels particularly auspicious to me. I woke up feeling inspired to share some of the rewarding insights that years of yoga and work in the natural foods industry have revealed. If you’re looking to make some positive lifestyle changes, I can personally testify to the benefits of the following:

1. Make Sambazon Breakfast Bowls… My favorite recipe includes 2 packs of Pure or Pure Fuzion Sambazon Açaí Smoothie Packs (both are unsweetened), a couple scoops of organic rice/hemp protein powder (whole food powders/no isolates), a scoop of Amazing Grass brand Chocolate Superfood, Eden Blend organic rice/soy milk and any other organic berries you enjoy. Top with Ezekiel sprouted cereal and some honey.

2. Get Your Juice On… I highly recommend investing in a low RPM, twin gear juicer such as the Green Star juicer. Juicing organic fruits & veggies is a complete game changer. Pickup some Green Bags and use them instead of the standard plastic bags from the produce section; in this way, your veggies will last in your fridge for a good 5-7 days. Go easy on the apple and carrot and be sure to incorporate things like fresh turmeric and ginger root, cilantro, parsley, kale, broccoli, celery and a whole lemon (peel included).

3. Sprouting… Sprouting is downright awesome. Just get a seed sprouting jar or two so you can keep a good rotation going. Avoid making this complicated because it couldn’t be easier or more fun! Just rinse your sprouts before you leave for work and then again at some point in the evening. You’ll have more delicious sprouts than you can eat; and so, if you have a surplus, just juice ‘em!

4. Composting… I can’t tell you how inspiring it is to utilize the pulp left over from my daily juicing to produce gorgeous organic soil for my house plants and garden. Just get a small compost unit for your countertop and make a larger one out of an old storage bin for your back stock. You’ll also need composting worms commonly referred to as ‘red wigglers’. Learn more from The Ecology Center and How to Compost.

5. Learn how to breathe… properly : ) Pranayama can be referred to as the scientific art of mastering the breath. Of course, most of us are born knowing how to breathe properly. However, stress and traumatic events in our lives can cause us to sub-optimize the manner in which we breathe. All breathing patterns have a corresponding affect on the mind; and so, mastery of the breath brings about a profoundly calm and serene state in the mind. You can learn simple techniques from your local Yoga, Tai Chi or Qugong teacher or contact me directly if you’d like to learn a particularly elegant system of breathing techniques called Kriya Kundalini Pranayama.

6. Letting go… The foundation for all successful meditations, i.e., pro-actively letting go of all of that which robs you of your peace. Most of us don’t think twice about our daily hygiene rituals, e.g., brushing our teeth, bathing etc. One can think of meditation as good mental hygiene. Consistent, intense practice of meditation promises profound improvement in our own lives as well as those we interact with.

7. Sunlight: Be sure to get at least 20minutes of direct sunlight each day. In this stage in our evolution, we spend a lot of time indoors inundated with electromagnetic radiation. Sunlight not only yields Vitamin D but will also help you look and feel your best.

Helpful keys to the successful implementation of positive lifestyle changes:

1. The things that will work best for you are those you’ll do. It’s always best to start with something that fascinates you.

2. Be sure to give it an honest try before moving on to the next thing. In yoga, we work first towards 44 days of consistent intense practice for a new habit to begin to take hold and a 144 day milestone for it to become part of your character. Remember, if you don’t give up, you’re bound to succeed!

Lastly: When it comes to discouragement and frustration, remember, if it’s not one thing in life, it will always be another. So, when you encounter negative emotions relax, smile and cultivate the opposite quality of whatever negative emotion you’re encountering, e.g., cultivate courage and contentment when you experience fear or frustration.

* Skanda gives regular weekend seminars into classical yoga all over the globe. Please contact him directly if you’d like to learn more.

Warmly,

-skanda

ed@sambazon.com
direct: 949 244 5651

Every Brand Needs a Logo...

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:39:00 +0000

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

BBQ Açaí Tempeh Burger

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Warm nights, fresh produce, and a long weekend ahead of us. Grilling season. Like usual, I had to add the superfoods and turn the classic burger into ultimate vegan tastiness - and I think you'll like where it ended up. So here's to friends and BBQs and a great summer ahead of us all.

Açaí BBQ Sauce
(Enough for 2, size up as needed)

1/2 Sweet yellow onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 Sweet piquanté peppers (they are from South Africa and sometimes called Peppadews or peri peri peppadrops)
1/3 ketchup
1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp chili powder (just use your favorite)
1/2 Sambazon Açaí Pure Smoothie Pack

Saute onion in oil till translucent, then add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for a couple minutes. Pour into a blender, and blend till smooth.

The Burger

Tempeh
Yellow crooked-neck squash
Tomato
Avocado
Romaine lettuce

Douse tempeh with BBQ sauce and rub squash with olive oil and add to a hot grill. Let cook till brown lines appear, flip and do the same. Add extra sauce to your tempeh each time you flip it. After about 10 minutes, or until desired doneness, add your buns to the grill to toast them briefly. Then pull everything off and assemble as you please.

Great with sweet potato fries (make them yourself of buy them frozen) and Açaí Sangria!

B Corp: Certified Sustainable

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:40:00 +0000

We founded Sambazon (Sustainable Management of the Brazilian Amazon) eleven years ago with a desire to create positive social change through a “sustainable” business. Our philosophy was, and continues to be, based on a triple bottom line, which aims to achieve social, economic, and environmental success in all that we do. During this period, that very word, sustainable, has started to loose meaning as companies big and small adopt “sustainable” practices that have any range of positive influence from vast to none.

We’re not a fan of greenwashing any more than you are, so in a quest to seek out credible measures that would both demonstrate our transparency and keep Sambazon at the forefront of this movement, we continue to work hard to push the envelope with respected third parties to grow our certified USDA organic and Ecocert Fair Trade supply chain. And today, I’m happy to announce that Sambazon is honored to call itself a B(enefit) Corporation.

A certified B Corporation is a mission-driven organization that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems – and that mission is built into its legal DNA. Not only can companies become certified after passing a rigorous review process that looks at how a corporation treats its employees, consumers, community and environment, but B Corp is also working state by state to pass Benefit Corporation legislation – they are working on our home state of California right now.

You can see how Sambazon stacks up in the ranks of B Corporations in our public profile. http://www.bcorporation.net/sambazon. If you see something we should work on, let us know. We appreciate your insights and know that the ultimate success of our society is dependent on all of us working together to create the future we want.

Ryan Black, Co-Founder + CEO

Recipe: The Kale + Pineapple Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:48:00 +0000

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!

Purple Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:10:00 +0000

Salted chocolate, caramel, açaí tarts... more purple in spirit than in look. This stuff is rich. I mean really rich. So make sure you have someone (or a few someones) to share it with. This also will take you a bit of time, about 3-4 hours. But in the end, you'll get to eat it, and its worth it.

Chocolate Tart Dough

8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 Cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
1 Large egg yolk
1 Tsp pure vanilla extract (pls don't use vanilla flavoring, it's just never as good)
1 1/4 Cups all-purpose flour
1/4 Cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

I use an electric mixer because I just got one, and am obsessed with it, but you could easy hand mix this with a wooden spoon, it will just take a bit longer. Either way, mix butter and confectioners' sugar till smooth. Then add egg yolk and vanilla and mix till smooth.

sift flour and cocoa powder (this makes sure you don't have those evil clumps in your dough) and add to your bowl then mix until just combined; form dough into a disk, seal in plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Flour a large surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick and press into a tart pan. You can either use a 10-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom or smaller individual tart pans - I used heart shaped small tart pans. Chill for about 30 minutes.

To bake, line with parchment paper and beans or weights - I didn't have parchment paper, and used garbanzo beans, which works, they just make small indents in the bottom of your tart - not a big deal. Bake with beans for 15 minutes, then pour the beans out and bake for 5-10 minutes more, or until crust is dry. Move to cooling rack.

Caramel Filling

1/2 Cup water
2 Cups granulated sugar
1/4 Cup light corn syrup
1/2 Cup heavy cream
8 Tbsp(1 stick) unsalted butter
2 Tbsp crème fraîche

Put water, sugar and corn syrup into a large saucepan and simmer and stir occasionally till it begins to turn golden. Turn off heat, and add cream (it will bubble ferociously once you begin to stir, but don't worry, it mellows out quickly). Add butter and crème fraîche and stir till smooth. If your caramel doesn't mix completely at first or you have some harder bits, you can put the pan on very low heat as you stir. Once mixed, let cool but stir occasionally so as not to form a crust on top. Pour into your tart and let it set.

Chocolate Ganache

1/2 cup heavy cream
3 1/2 ounces extra-bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 Scoops Sambazon Freeze-Dried Açaí Powder

Chop chocolate finely and put into a heatproof bowl. Heat cream to a slight boil and pour over chocolate. Let it sit for a moment, and then stir until smooth. Add in açaí powder and mix. While warm, pour into the tarts as the top layer and place tarts in the fridge to set.

To serve, remove tarts from the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour to warm up to room temperature, and sprinkle with salt - I used large sea salt.

Adapted from LOTTIE + DOOF, who adapted a recipe from Marlow&Sons.

Sambazon's New Warrior of Change!

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:26:00 +0000

Congrats to Joe Chisholm of Waves of Action, you are our newest Warrior of Change. And with that comes $10,000 and the responsibility to make the world a better place - a happier, more sustainable, and more knowledgeable one.

Through Waves of Action, Joe will help to bring awareness and catalyze action among the youth for environmental issues affecting our oceanic environment and cetaceans (whales, porpoises and dolphins). Waves of Action will engage students around the world to make their own films about environmental issues of their choice. Joe, we look forward to seeing the film tour the world and watching your movement grow.

To everyone else, thanks for participating, voting, submitting, listening. And stay tuned to this blog, we’ll have updates from Joe as he goes on his voyage of oceanic welfare.

The Game Changer Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:58:00 +0000

I’ve always been into starting the day with a good breakfast and I used to think a smoothie made with some orange juice, a banana, maybe some frozen berries and some cheap whey protein got the job done. But then we discovered açaí in Brazil and I started learning about all these other organic superfood ingredients I could throw into my Vitamix blender - it was a complete game changer. We live in a day and age where we have access to so many amazing foods, so as we start a new year I encourage you to find some smoothie recipes that make you feel amazing. Here’s one of my favorites that packs some serious nutrition.

I start with half a banana and some organic chocolate hemp milk from my friends at Manitoba Harvest (hemp is rich in Omega 3s and it tastes better, especially the chocolate, and is nutritionally superior to soy). Then I throw in a pack of our Pure Fuzion Açaí, it’s just pure açaí and acerola (which has 10x the vitamin C of OJ), and add another Original Açaí Smoothie Pack, because I’m a 2 pack-a-day kinda guy. Lastly the extras: Amazing Grass Organic Supergreens, Organic maca powder (some say it makes you “strong like bull”), Manitoba Hemp Protein Powder (I like to have about 10g vegan based protein in the morning). Top it all off with some organic honey I get at my local farmers market (sweeten to taste).

1/2 Banana
1 Sambazon Pure Fuzion Smoothie Pack
1 Sambazon Original Smoothie Pack
1 Cup of Chocolate Hemp Bliss
1 Tbsp Amazing Grass Superfood powder
2 Tbsp Manitoba Hemp Protein Powder
1 Tsp Maca powder
A drizzle of honey (to taste)

Enjoy and we’d love to hear what’s in your morning smoothie, so share your favorite recipes with us on our Facebook page.

Purple Smiles,
Jeremy Black, Chief Brand Officer

Glycemic Index vs Load? What is Low Glycemic?

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:57:00 +0000

The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates foods (on a scale from 0 to 100) based on their effect on blood glucose levels after ingestion; low-GI foods are foods with a lesser glycemic effect meaning that they don’t raise blood sugar levels as high following consumption; high-GI foods are those with a greater glycemic effect (1). Foods with a high GI are those whose sugar is rapidly digested and absorbed resulting in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Because low-GI foods produce more gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels they are perceived to be healthier for routine consumption. (2,3)

One issue that arose with the GI originally was that it did not account for proper portions. As a result, researchers refined the GI to develop the Glycemic Load which is a ranking system for carbohydrate content in food portions based on their glycemic index. A food's glycemic load is determined by multiplying its glycemic index by the amount of carbohydrate it contains. Glycemic load combines both the quality and quantity of carbohydrate in one ‘number’. It’s the best way to predict blood glucose values of different types and amounts of food.

There are several factors that affect how quickly sugar will enter the bloodstream:

1) the food form
2) the presence and quantity of fiber
3) the presence of added sugar or sweetener, and
4) the presence of fat.

In the case of organic fruit juice, the presence of fiber and healthy fat, as is in the acai berry, will help to reduce the glycemic index of the juice compared to a fruit that doesn’t contain either of these, such as most apple or orange juices.

Written by Ashley Koff RD, www.ashleykoffapproved.com.

Learn why Sambazon's Original Juice is low glycemic here.

References:
1. DeBruyne, L. K., Pinna, K., Whitney, E. (2008). Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Principles and Practice (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
2. Brown, Judith E. Nutrition Through the Life Cycle. Third Edition. New York: Thomson 2008.
3. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/carbohydrates-and-the-glycemic-load/.

Acai Caramel (i.e. purple butter)

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:36:00 +0000

Mmmmm, purple butter for utter holiday indulgence. Because if Coca Cola can make Santa red, why can't I make happiness purple?

1 Cup Sambazon Original Açaí Juice
2/3 heaping cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp heavy cream
2.5 Tbsp butter

In a sauce pan over medium-high heat, heat acai juice and let boil till reduced to 1/3. Reduce heat to medium and add sugar, salt, cream, butter and stir till everything is melted and mixed thoroughly. It will boil a bit ferociously, but don’t be scared, keep mixing occasionally.

After about 10 minutes or so, you should notice that the liquid is starting to congeal when stirred. Turn off heat and let it cool completely (if you’re rushed, put it in the fridge or freezer).

Once cool, pour caramel onto plastic wrap and form into a long stick bout ½ inch in diameter. Wrap up and place in freezer for another 15 minutes or until hard enough to cut. Cut into small candy sized pieces about ½ inch long, and wrap individually in plastic wrap, but not before you sneak one yourself.

Happy Holidays!

Water Warriors

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:25:00 +0000

Pro surfer Jon Rose was on a surf trip headed to Bali in 2009 when the tragic quake hit. A couple years prior, his dad Jack Rose had started Rain Catcher, a non-profit to distribute easy and economical water catchment and filtration systems in Africa. So Jon had a few water filters on him and promptly gave them out to aid workers in Sumatra. Seeing the devastation and the need for clean water inspired Jon to create Waves4Water and grow this concept of surf community distributed clean water systems.

“The mission is simple: To get clean water to every single person who needs it.”

Since then, Waves4Water has worked on the front line to provide clean water to communities in need around the world. They have worked on a community level, making simple filtration systems available to traveling surfers to give out to people in need at their destinations, and they have worked with strategic partners such as UN forces to distribute filters in earthquake crises areas.
Here are just some of the results:

Sumatra: Earthquake relief – 250 (community & family) filters distributed = 7000 people with access to clean water.
Bali: 37 villages on impoverished East side now stabilized and drinking clean water.
Haiti: Earthquake relief – 31,000 (community & family) filters distributed = 2,100,000 people with access to clean water.
Chile: Earthquake relief – 1000 (family) filters distributed = 10,000 people with access to clean water.

Today, Jack and Jon Rose are Sambazon warriors, and continue to Warrior Up by making positive change on a massive level across the world. Learn more about how Jack and Jon Warrior Up! Or stock up on water filters to become a clean water courier on your next trip to a developing nation.

Açaí Cookie Sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:44:00 +0000

A little sweet, a lot creamy, a hint of purple goodness. These cookies are delish, made fresh and compiled right before you munch.

1 1/2 Cup flour
1 Tbsp cream of tartar
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1/4 Tsp salt

1 Stick (8 Tbsp) of butter, softened
3/4 Cup sugar
1 Tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp whole milk

1/2 package of cream cheese
1/2 original açaí smoothie pack

In a standup mixer or by hand with a whisk, mix the first 4 ingredients together in a bowl. In another bowl mix butter and sugar till creamy, then add vanilla and milk and mix till fully incorporated. Add the flour mix to the butter mix and blend till mixed.

Flour a cutting board and roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick, then place in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer.

When dough is cooled, use circular cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Make a smaller circle cut into half of the cookies.

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees, and bake cookies for 10 minutes or until slightly golden on the edges, then let cool completely.

Right before serving, blend cream cheese with açaí until fully mixed and schmear a tablespoon or so in between two cookies.

Sambazon's Symbiotic Relationship to the Brick Factory

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:03:00 +0000

During the açaí harvest season there are over 1,000,000 açaí seeds a day that come out (after the fruit has been processed) of the Sambazon factory located in the Brazilian Amazon. The seeds, a new found renewable resource, are used as fuel both Sambazon's own factory in the Amazon and a local brick factory that used to run solely on wood. The sustainable option, in this case, has become both an economically and socially viable choice.

Amapá Telhas, just two minutes from the Sambazon production plant, is a factory that produces clay bricks for industrial and residential use. Integral to manufacturing is the firing process, which cooks the soft malleable clay in to hard heavy-duty construction brick. Furnaces nearing temperatures of 2000 degrees Farenheit burn nearly all day long producing 500,000 tons of brick each day.

Before Sambazon began donating our seeds to Amapá Telhas, “we would use virgin wood from the surrounding area (Rainforest) to burn as fuel for the kilns.” Said owner Wagner Alonso Rodrigues.. It was calculated that each day one acre of native Rainforest wood was used to burn as fuel in the factory. That number has now been reduced by nearly 90%.

Saving an acre of Rainforest a day not only proved to be the socially responsible thing to do, it also proved to be economically advantageous. “We have reduced our wood purchasing so drastically that now we save $US 250 a day burning seed instead of wood,” comments Rodrigues. To put that number in perspective a bit, that is the same amount that the average factory employee gets paid in an entire month.

Making this process functional was not without its obstacles. The seed has to be stored properly, crushed and mixed with wood shavings to burn correctly and, in order to keep up with his modern equipment, Rodrigues installed a sophisticated distribution system for the seeds to be automatically added to each kiln as temperature dictates.

Sambazon and Amapa Telhas have wonderfully pioneered a socially responsible and economically profitable partnership. This symbiosis is exactly the type of collaboration we need to encourage and focus on as we continue to become aware of how precious our natural resources are.

Bridge to the future,

Scott Nemeth
Director of Lifestyle Marketing

Warrior of Change Seane Corn

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:39:00 +0000

Seane Corn is a modern yogini and renown instructor, her unabashed spirit has caught the eye of media around the country. Seane teaches a dynamic vinyasa flow and leads her students on an inner journey towards personal understanding, but beyond the studio, social change is her mantra.

Seane Corn, Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling founded Off the Mat, Into the World (OTM) in 2007. OTM helps individuals take the path of yoga “off the mat and into the world,” expanding the sphere of change outward to local and global communities through leadership trainings, fostering community collaboration, and initiating local and global service projects.

Using their expertise with leadership and positive change, OTM leaders will help us judge the Sambazon Warrior of Change Contest to elect the most realistic and impactful project proposals.

Through intensive weekends OTM empowers individuals to become leaders of social change in their communities by these simple, yet very important steps:

• Self-Inquiry: Who am I? What is my Purpose?
• Transformational Journey Work: Transforming our wounds into tools for healing.
• Community: Conscious collaboration skills.
• Action: Creating a group project that makes a difference.

If you’re interested in empowerment through yoga, OTM will be hosting leadership trainings in cities across the US next year. Till the end of November a 5% of all Sambazon’s Smoothie Pack Sales will be donated to scholarships that help yogis in need attend OTM trainings.

OTM is made up of thousands of yogis in action who practice, volunteer and teach all over the world. This network has created concrete positive change through tangible projects like the Global Seva Challenge that currently raises funds to support communities in crisis in South Africa, the Empowered Youth Initiative which immerses yogis with at-risk youth communities in inner city Los Angeles, and many more.
To get involved, visit www.offthematintotheworld.org

.

Recipe: The Pumpkin Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:06:00 +0000

Fall's here, and that means feasts with the family, hot cocoa in front of the fireplace, and... pumpkins. So we got to a bit of experimenting and discovered a seasonal favorite.

The Pumpkin Bowl

2 Sambazon Original Smoothie Packs
1/4 Cup Pumpkin - I used organic pumpkin puree from Trader Joes, but you could use left over cooked pumpkin cubes as well.
1/4 Banana
A splash of spiced apple cider
A small squeeze of lemon juice

Blend up thick, pour into a bowl and top with banana slices, granola (try a pumpkin granola from your local health food market), and ground cinnamon.

Non-GMO Warrior: Jeffrey Smith

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:01:00 +0000

As you may, or may not, know this last October was the first ever Non-GMO month. The Non-GMO Project was sure to hand out Non-GMO shopping guides at local retailers and host educational events around the country that answered a very important question:

Why is non-GMO food important in the first place? Well, GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are created by various genetic engineering techniques to produce species with specific attributes (bigger/better/faster). However, GMOs are not proven to be safe for consumption, although they are widely distributed around the world in many foods you may be consuming. Interesting thing to note, GMOs are banned in Europe where people fought successfully to keep them out of the food system, but here in the US widespread common foods like corn and soy (including most corn syrup) are made from GMO crops.

One man, known by the world as the no-GMO guy, Jeffrey Smith has a lot to say about the matter. His organization, called the Institute for Responsible Technology, states that,

“Genetic engineers continually encounter unintended side effects – GM plants create toxins, react to weather differently, contain too much or too little nutrients, become diseased or malfunction and die. When foreign genes are inserted, dormant genes may be activated or the functioning of genes altered, creating new or unknown proteins, or increasing or decreasing the output of existing proteins inside the plant. The effects of consuming these new combinations of proteins are unknown.” But people can predict, and Mr. Smith in his best seller, Genetic Roulette, clearly outlines numerous health and environmental threats from GMO activity.

Jeffrey Smith, a long time friend of Sambazon’s, is joining our tribe of Warriors and you’ll be able to see his full profile on the Sambazon website in a couple weeks.

If you’re interested in learning more, I encourage you to check out the Institute for Responsible Technology.

GreenFest in DC

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:25:00 +0000

Washington, DC, full of suits and big wigs, definitely has some hidden flair when it comes to the greenies. Last weekend we were at GreenFest DC, a big show where "green" companies set up booths and sample and sell their products to a hopefully eco-centric and eager crowd. We've been coming to this show as a company for a while, but this year was different... it was busy! Hopefully the sign of a flourishing trend towards environmental and social awareness throughout our nation's capitol.

We set up our Sambazon tent (as purple as possible), right next to our friends at Manitoba Harvest and Dr. Bronners, and made açaí bowls for every curious (and hungry) passerby. And it was certainly fun to see all our friends, including a surprise visit by the legendary Brasilian musician Gilberto Gil.

Next year Greenfest moves to NYC. Sad to leave our friends and fans in DC, but hope you'll all make the trip to see us next year in the Big Apple.

Keep it Purple,
Kaia Lai

Kassia Meador and Keep A Breast

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:03:00 +0000

Keep A Breast casts molds of women’s busts and partners with incredible artists to make them into beautiful pieces of art. Not only is this a great visual way to raise awareness about breast cancer, but KAB auctions the pieces off at events around the year to raise funds for projects. This is a glimpse into their 10 year anniversary event:

Acai Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:01:00 +0000

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.

Cardiff goes Green

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:46:00 +0000

Here at Sambazon we are all about creating positive change so any chance we get to inspire and empower others to do the same we don’t hesitate to participate. This weekend our San Diego team setup shop at the Cardiff Surf Classic and Green Beach Fair to help support a great community that is inspiring their town to create positive change everyday. Along with our friends and family at Guayaki, Clif Bar, Ocean Minded, Surfrider Foundation, Bamboo SK8 and Bull Taco, dozens of other vendors and businesses set up their booths to help show the community of Cardiff how everyday activities can easily be made green and sustainable to positively affect their environment and surroundings.

Surfrider and Ocean Minded teamed up to do a beach cleanup: all attendees who picked up 50 pieces of trash with the provided hardware were entered to win a prize and at the end of the event the trash was turned into an amazing recycled sculpture. It was great to see the community come together and show their love for the beach, the environment and help promote their sustainable business practices. Well done Cardiff – way to show your true colors and help others to Warrior Up! and create positive change.

Warrior Up,
Cameron Faist - Sambazon Event Manager

Water Warriors Take the Stage at the Hurley Pro

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:54:00 +0000

For the 4th year in a row, we served up açaí bowls at the Hurley Pro. Usually one of the more impressive surf contests at Trestles, this year topped all. Today, Hurly H2O tents sold re-useable water bottles (for $5!) and offered free refills for re-useable water containers. Not a bad deal and a great way to help people make the first step in reducing their use of single use plastics like disposable water bottles. The H20 Project is a collaboration between Hurley, Waves4Water and the Ecology Center to distribute water filters around the world in places of need and raise awareness for water conservation and environmental stewardship locally. This is a really amazing project, and I’m not just saying that because three of our local Orange County Warriors are involved (Jack and Jon Rose founded Waves4Water, and Evan Marks founded the Ecology Center).

Kudos to the Hurley Pro for supporting positive change, it’s just another reason why we keep coming back to this event each year. That, and all the athletes who tell us how grateful they are that Sambazon is there to fuel ‘em up. We think that açaí is the best thing on earth, and we’re suckers for people that think so too.

Thanks Hurley Pro, it was fun, see you all next year.

Team Sambazon

Almond Buttered Banana Freeze + Açaí

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:46:00 +0000

Recipe by Ani Phyo adapted from Ani’s Raw Food Essentials cookbook

Makes 4 servings

Almonds provide calcium, protein, and vitamin E, bananas are loaded with potassium, and açaí is full of antioxidants and healthy omegas. This easy smoothie is a great post workout fuel – it helps increase circulation and blood flow to stressed muscles, while building lean tissue.

2 bananas, sliced
1/4 cup raw almond butter
1 tbsp raw cacao powder
3 to 4 cups Organic Sambazon Açaí Juice

Combine the banana, almond butter, and organic Sambazon Açaí Juice in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Best served immediately, but will keep for a couple days in the fridge.

Real Deal Açaí

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:34:00 +0000

It’s beautiful to observe the growing importance that we as consumers are placing on the source and authenticity of our food. Movies like Food Inc. are helping to make us aware of the injustices within the food industry so we can shape positive change through our purchasing decisions.

Since bringing açaí to market, we’ve witnessed how subtle inaccuracies around açaí in the marketplace evolved into pervasive misinformation as companies both large and small raced to jump on the açaí bandwagon.

It’s become apparent that açaí scams of one form or another have become all too pervasive; and so, we’ve taken it as our duty to lift the veil and let the truth be known, a campaign we call our Real Deal Açaí series.

The goal for this new educational campaign is to provide a simple means by which people can determine the amount of ‘whole food açaí’ in a given product. In an effort to remain as objective as possible, we’ve posted the lab results of some relevant açaí products as examples of what to look out for.

The Real Deal Açaí series will come to you in the form of blogs, newsletters and messaging on our products’ labels as well from the Real Deal Açaí page of our website.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this new resource so you too can become a source of Açaí truth:

http://www.sambazon.com/realdeal

Yours in all things Açaí,

-skanda

Sambazon Warrior Up Launch Party!

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:27:00 +0000

This week Sambazon Launched Warrior Up in San Diego, CA. It’s campaign that celebrates warriors of change – people like Rob Machado, Bob Burnquist, Seane Corn, and many others. Here’s some photos of the launch party. Thanks to everyone that came, especially our Sambazon Warriors who have contributed to much to this project.

Ray Barbee and the Matson II performed a great opening set!

Manu Scaarpa, Stephanie Bernstein ( To-Go Ware), Rob Machado (Rob Machado Foundation) and Jeremy Black (VP Marketing Sambazon).

Raw Food Chef Ani Phyo posses with her pup, her manager Kato, and Sambazon's Scotty Nemeth.

Kassia Meador gets in character with a group of friends.

Sambazon's Warrior Up photo booth inspired a whole ton of interesting shots - headdresses included.

Bob Burnquist and wife Veronica show us how they Warriored Up!

For all the photos, check out our flickr stream. And hear what Fuel TV had to say about the night!

Featured Recipe: Warrior Fuel

noreply@blogger.com (sambazon) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:10:00 +0000

The ultimate Warrior Bowl, fuel for a lifetime of fighting the good fight.

Blend this:
2 Sambazon Original Açaí Smoothie Packs
A splash of Coconut water
1/2 Banana
1 tbsp Maca powder
1 tbsp Greens (we like Amazing Grass, but any greens mix will do)

Pour your açaí blend in to a bowl and top with:
Bee pollen
Cacao nibs
Hemp seeds
1/2 Banana slices

Then put your Warrior headdress on and start creating solutions to the most pressing issues that challenge our world today. Go ahead, do it.