Guarana – the stimulating cousin of yerba mate

A long and exhausting day at work awaits you, you're preparing for a tough exam, or perhaps you're planning to pull an all-nighter playing your favourite game with friends? You need a solid source of energy, but you know that coffee or yerba mate won’t be enough. You've heard the name "guarana". What is it? Is it healthy, and what does guarana have to do with yerba mate?

Summary:

1. Magical eyes. The legend of guarana
2. Guarana – a miraculous plant from Brazil
3. Yerba mate and guarana – a perfect match. The properties of the 'miracle plant'
4. Guarana – how to brew, consume, and use it?
5. Double the caffeine hit. The best yerba mate infused with guarana

Magical eyes. The legend of guarana

The first people to discover the properties of guarana were the Indigenous peoples living in the Amazon basin. Much like with yerba mate, the discovery of guarana by Indians is intertwined with a legend that claims it was a gift from a benevolent god. Long ago, among the Sateré-Maué tribe, there lived a boy who was adored by all the inhabitants of the village. He had a kind heart, was helpful, and demonstrated extraordinary strength and wisdom. He was the best archer and aided everyone in need. In some versions of the legend, it is said that the boy had the power to heal and could communicate with animals. The boy caught the attention of Jurupari, an evil demon living in the surrounding rainforest, who became jealous of the boy's reputation among the community. Seeking revenge, Jurupari transformed into a venomous snake and bit the boy while he was picking fruit in the forest. The boy died. His parents, as well as the entire village, were heartbroken. To console them, the benevolent god Tupã instructed them to bury the boy's eyes in the ground. From that place grew a plant with miraculous properties. It was believed to heal sicknesses, boost energy, and satiate hunger. Its fruits resembled human eyes. The Sateré-Maué tribe named the plant warana, which in their language meant "fruit like human eyes". Later, the Guarani Indians called the plant guara-ná, which means the same.

Guarana – a miraculous plant from Brazil

Guarana is a plant native to South America, thriving in the Amazon basin, particularly in the Brazilian state of Pará. It is a climbing plant that winds around trees or grows on the ground, reaching up to 10 metres in height. It has oval leaves with serrated edges and small, white, fragrant flowers clustered in dense inflorescences. The most distinctive feature of the plant is its fruit – bright red, large, round berries that split open to reveal a pale interior and a dark seed. The appearance of these fruits, resembling open eyes, explains the origin of the Indigenous legend about the plant’s discovery. Guarana fruit has a bitter-sour taste. Hundreds of years ago, the Indigenous peoples used the seeds of guarana to prepare a drink. They husked the fruits, cleaned, and roasted the seeds before grinding them into a fine powder. Mixed with water, they formed a paste which they shaped into small balls. These dried guarana balls were later dissolved in water. They also added it to medications and food products. A guarana drink provided the Indigenous peoples with energy, enhanced their focus, and suppressed hunger – crucial benefits during long expeditions and hunting trips. The guarana fruit was reportedly even used as a form of currency among the tribes. It wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that guarana made its way across the Atlantic. Its Latin name, Paullinia cupana, was given in honour of German physician Christian Franz Paullini.

Yerba mate and guarana – a perfect match. The properties of the “miracle plant”

The origin of guarana and its discoverers aren’t the only things that tie this plant to the yerba mate we know so well. The most important common feature of both is their stimulating properties, which they owe to the caffeine they contain. Some claim that yerba mate contains mateine, while guarana contains guaranine, but in reality, these are just different names for the same substance. While the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis plant contain about 1.5% caffeine, guarana seeds boast a caffeine content of approximately 4-6%. That’s four times more than coffee! Guarana is attributed with numerous health benefits. Like yerba mate, it contains theobromine and theophylline, which dilate blood vessels and help improve blood circulation. Guarana enhances physical and mental performance, stimulates cognitive processes, and improves concentration. Its seeds also contain about 11% fat, along with protein and fibre. They are rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties. Guarana boosts metabolism, which can aid in weight loss. Some use it to combat migraines, and many sellers advertise it as a libido enhancer, claiming it to be an aphrodisiac – although these claims are not firmly supported by research.

Guarana – how to brew, consume, and use it?

Although guarana’s properties were once known only to the Indigenous peoples of the Amazonian rainforest, it is now widely available in health food shops, herbal stores, and pharmacies. It’s sold in powdered form and can be consumed "dry" or as an infusion, brewed with hot water. Powdered guarana can also be added to tea, yoghurt, yerba mate, or coffee to enhance their energising effects. It should be used sparingly! The recommended daily dose is roughly 50-75 milligrams, and it’s best avoided in the evening or even late afternoon. Guarana is often sold in tablet form as a dietary supplement. It’s also an ingredient in popular energy drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic ones (e.g., beer with guarana). Interestingly, guarana is not just used in food products. It has properties that make it a valuable cosmetic ingredient. Guarana extract is added to anti-cellulite and slimming cosmetics, as well as under-eye creams. It has firming and anti-swelling effects. Additionally, it has anti-wrinkle, astringent, and antibacterial properties and improves microcirculation.

Double the caffeine hit. The best yerba mate infused with guarana

As mentioned earlier, guarana can easily be combined with yerba mate to enhance its stimulating effects. You can do this yourself, but many yerba mate manufacturers offer ready-made mixes with guarana. Guarana not only enhances yerba mate’s energising properties but also complements its earthy flavour with its slightly bitter and tangy profile. You’ll find it pairs wonderfully with all types of yerba mate – whether it’s the mild, air-dried Brazilian green yerba mate or the smoky and bitter Paraguayan varieties. For novice yerba mate drinkers seeking a strong energy boost, we recommend the Brazilian brand Verde Mate Green’s Energía Guaraná. For the more experienced, the Brazilian Yaguar Energía Guaraná – bolder in flavour, smoke-dried, with twigs and dust – might be a better choice. Traditional yerba mate enthusiasts who enjoy strong, smoky, and highly stimulating blends will likely appreciate Paraguayan offerings such as Guarani Energia con Guarana or the even more potent Guarani Energia Caffeine+. Recently, our shop also introduced one of the strongest yerba mate blends on the market – El Fuego Energia Guarana. We recommend it only for the boldest mate drinkers – it packs a serious kick from the very first sip!

Image sources:

1. Image 1, author: A C Moraes, licence: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
2. Image 2, author: Idesam, licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Sources of information:

1. F.C. Schimpla, J. Ferreirada da Silva, J. Francisco de Carvalho Gonçalves, P. Mazzaferaa, Guarana: Revisiting a highly caffeinated plant from the Amazon, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 150, 2013, pp. 14-31.
2. Wikipedia: Guarana.
3. Worldfloraonline.org: Paullinia cupana Kunth.