The Atlantic Forest, one of the richest areas in biodiversity on the planet, is home to a huge variety of plant and animal species, many of which are threatened with extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitats. One such species is the cambuci (Campomanesia phaea), a native Atlantic Forest fruit with a unique flavor and significant ecological value. Recently, initiatives focused on environmental restoration have rediscovered the cambuci as a key player in restoring native vegetation and combating environmental degradation.

Quetzalli, a brand committed to sustainability and the appreciation of Brazil's natural resources, chose cambuci as the key ingredient for its new drink, combining it with cachaça and pineapple. The goal behind this choice is not only to create a tasty and innovative beverage, but also to actively support the preservation of the Atlantic Forest and contribute to the spread of a fruit that is on the verge of extinction.

In this text, we will explore in detail what cambuci is, the ecological and cultural reasons that led Quetzalli to choose this fruit for its drink, and how this choice reflects a deep commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability.

What is Cambuci?

Cambuci is a fruit with a peculiar shape, resembling a flat disk or an inverted bell. Green in color and slightly yellow when ripe, cambuci has a white, juicy flesh known for its acidic and slightly astringent flavor. This combination of characteristics makes it a distinctive fruit, both in appearance and flavor.

The cambuci tree, which gives rise to the cambuci, is a plant native to the Atlantic Forest that can reach between 4 and 10 meters in height. It flourishes in high-altitude areas and was once widespread in regions such as São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. Historically, the cambuci was common in the dense forests that covered these regions, forming part of the traditional diet of indigenous peoples such as the Tupi-Guarani. These people used the cambuci not only for food but also for medicinal purposes, recognizing its nutritional properties and potential health benefits.

Quetzalli's Choice: Why Cambuci?

Quetzalli's decision to use cambuci in its new drink goes beyond a simple flavor choice. It's directly linked to the brand's core values, which promote sustainability, environmental awareness, and responsible consumption. But why cambuci specifically?

1. Environmental Conservation and Preservation of Native Species

One of the main reasons Quetzalli chose cambuci is the fact that this fruit is endangered. With the advance of urbanization and agriculture, the Atlantic Forest was severely devastated, and the once abundant cambuci began to disappear along with its habitat. By incorporating cambuci into its drink, Quetzalli aims to draw attention to the need to reintroduce and cultivate native Atlantic Forest species.

By supporting cambuci cultivation, Quetzalli directly contributes to the preservation of this fruit and forest recovery, as cambuci planting is part of reforestation efforts. In essence, Quetzalli sees cambuci not just as an ingredient, but as a symbol of the Atlantic Forest's regeneration and resilience.

2. Valuing Local Biodiversity

Quetzalli also chose cambuci because it represents the richness of Brazilian biodiversity. In an increasingly globalized world, where exotic foods and flavors are popular, there's a growing trend toward valuing ingredients native to each region. As a fruit endemic to the Atlantic Forest, cambuci carries with it the ecological and cultural identity of this unique biome.

By including cambuci in its drink, Quetzalli reinforces its connection to Brazil and its appreciation for local ingredients. Furthermore, this choice reflects the brand's commitment to developing products that respect and promote Brazil's natural wealth while encouraging sustainable production practices.

3. Consumer Awareness

Another crucial factor that motivated Quetzalli to choose cambuci was the desire to raise consumer awareness about environmental issues. Each bottle of cambuci-infused drink carries a story of preservation and sustainability. By promoting the use of an endangered fruit, Quetzalli educates consumers on the importance of choosing products that help protect the environment.

Raising awareness about the impact consumption has on nature is one of Quetzalli's pillars, and cambuci was chosen as a way to connect consumers with the cause of environmental preservation in a tangible way. By choosing a beverage that includes cambuci, consumers are, in a way, participating in a larger movement to restore the Atlantic Forest and promote sustainability.

4. Unique and Sophisticated Flavor

Last but not least, Quetzalli chose cambuci for its unique flavor. With a striking acidity and fresh notes, cambuci offers a distinct sensory experience that harmonizes perfectly with cachaça and pineapple. This combination results in a sophisticated drink, with a balance of acidity, sweetness, and citrus.

Quetzalli seeks to provide consumers not just with a pleasant beverage, but with an experience that awakens the senses and reflects the authenticity and diversity of Brazilian flavors. Cambuci, with its complex sensory profile, fits perfectly into this concept.

Cambuci and the Atlantic Forest: A Relationship of Mutual Benefit

The cambuci is a clear example of how preserving a species can have a direct impact on the recovery of a biome. By encouraging the planting and consumption of this fruit, Quetzalli is helping to restore degraded areas of the Atlantic Forest, a forest that has already lost more than 85% of its original cover.

Reforestation projects that utilize the cambuci palm not only promote the restoration of native vegetation but also increase local biodiversity, attracting pollinators and helping to rebalance the ecosystem. Thus, the cambuci palm is a key player in the regeneration of the Atlantic Forest, acting as a kind of "catalyst" for the return of other plants and animals.

Quetzalli's Drink: A Toast to Sustainability

By combining cachaça, cambuci, and pineapple, Quetzalli created a drink that's not only an explosion of tropical flavors, but also a declaration of commitment to nature. The drink combines the strength of cachaça, the sweet freshness of pineapple, and the acidic and refreshing touch of cambuci, creating a unique palate experience.

More than that, every sip of this drink is a way to support the preservation of the Atlantic Forest and the spread of cambuci. Quetzalli is committed to doing more than simply creating an attractive product; the brand aims to be an agent of transformation, using its drink as a vehicle to promote a greater cause: sustainability and environmental regeneration.

Conclusion

Cambuci, a fruit native to the Atlantic Forest, represents much more than an exotic ingredient. It symbolizes Brazil's rich biodiversity and the fight to preserve what remains of one of the world's most endangered forests. Quetzalli's choice to use cambuci in its drink is not just a taste decision, but a conscious action focused on sustainability and environmental regeneration.

By drinking Quetzalli's cachaça, cambuci, and pineapple drink, consumers are actively participating in a conservation and replanting initiative, helping to restore the Atlantic Forest biome and ensuring that cambuci is not just a distant memory, but a fruit that will continue to thrive for generations to come.