Guarana

Guarana (/ˌɡwɑːrəˈnɑː/, from the Portuguese guaraná [ɡwaɾɐˈna]), Paullinia cupana, syn. P. crysan, P. sorbilis) is a climbing plant in the maple family, Sapindaceae, native to the Amazon basin and especially common in Brazil. Guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, and is best known for the seeds from its fruit, which are about the size of a coffee bean. As a dietary supplement, guarana is an effective stimulant: its seeds contain about twice the concentration of caffeine found in coffee seeds (about 2–4.5% caffeine in guarana seeds compared to 1–2% for coffee seeds).

As with other plants producing caffeine, the high concentration of caffeine is a defensive toxin that repels herbivores from the berry and its seeds.

The guarana fruit's colour ranges from brown to red and contains black seeds which are partly covered by white arils. The colour contrast when the fruit has been split open has been likened to eyeballs; which has formed the basis of an origin myth among the Sateré-Mawé people.

Guarana (drink)

Guarana is an energy drink produced by AD Knjaz Miloš, a producer based in Aranđelovac, Serbia. The drink is popular within Serbia, and is made from extracts of the guarana plant, which contains caffeine (sometimes called "guaranine"), theophylline, and theobromine. Guarana has a caffeine content equivalent to, or more than, most energy drinks.

Ingredients

Carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, guarana extract.

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Guaraná (beverage)

Guaraná is a Peruvian and Brazilian brand of soft drink owned by Backus and Johnston and sold in Peru. Guaraná is a soft-drink containing guarana fruit and is sold in PET bottles of 500 ml. In 2007 the drink had 5% of the Peruvian soft drinks market, and was relaunched with a new bottle and label and a light version. A year later its sales had increased by 49%.

The brand has sponsored national windsurfing,taekwondo and youth football tournaments. It is widely used by Peruvian A/B youth sectors to be mixed up with whisky.

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