Guarana

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Guarana
Scientific name	Paullinia cupana
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Sapindales
Family	Sapindaceae
Genus	Paullinia
Type	Climbing shrub
Habitat	Warm, humid, wet places; acidic soil
Native range	Amazon Basin, Brazil and Venezuela
Colours	White flowers; red-yellow fruit
Height	About 10 m
Edible parts	Seeds (caffeine-rich)
Special feature	Seeds hold more caffeine than coffee beans

Guarana is a climbing plant of the maple family. An herbal tea is made from the seeds of Guarana. It is a popular energy supplement. As compared to coffee beans it has more caffeine. It can contain 3.6% to 5.8% caffeine while coffee has only up to 2%. In North America, it is a popular ingredient in tea and energy drinks. Herbal tea is made by washing and shelling the seeds of Guarana. Its taste is distinctive and very unique. The Guarana plant is named after the Guarani tribe in the Amazon who used this seed to prepare a nutritious drink. It is native to the Brazilian rainforest and the Amazon basin. It belongs to the flowering Sapindaceae family. It bears white flowers in auxiliary clusters with long Lancelot and toothed dark green leaves. The fruit of this plant is very unique in appearance with a reddish-yellow color on the exterior part and white inside. This fruit bears seeds that are famous for therapeutic purposes.

History

The Guaraní and Sateré-Mawé peoples of the Amazon have used guarana for a very long time. They roasted and ground the seeds to make a drink that helped them feel alert and less tired, for example on long hunting trips. In a Sateré-Mawé legend, guarana seeds look like human eyes because the first plant grew from the eyes of a beloved child. European visitors were writing about guarana by the 1600s, and today guarana-flavored soft drinks are hugely popular in Brazil.

Anatomy

Guarana is a climbing plant, called a liana, that can grow up to about 10 to 12 meters long when it climbs up trees in the forest. On farms it is usually grown as a shrub, which makes the fruit easier to pick. The stems are woody and flexible, and the large leaves are divided into five leaflets. Its small white flowers grow in clusters. The fruits turn bright red when ripe and split open to show black seeds partly covered by white flesh, which makes them look like eyes!

Habitat

Guarana is native to the Amazon basin, especially Brazil, and it also grows in Venezuela. It needs a warm, tropical climate and grows in rainforests and along riverbanks. Brazil is the main country where guarana is farmed, especially in the states of Amazonas and Bahia.

Soil

Guarana grows best in deep, well-drained soil that stays moist and is rich in organic matter. It prefers slightly acidic soil. Adding compost or leaf mulch helps keep the soil healthy. Avoid soggy ground, because standing water can rot the roots.

Temperature and Humidity

The Guarana plant requires high humidity and full sunlight. It grows well in moist places. It grows well in humid and warm climate in the full year and where the temperature will never drop below 65 degree Fahrenheit.

Planting

The planting of the Guarana is done by the sowing its seeds, cutting or planting. The seeds to be sown should be fresh or it will fail to germinate. Before planting, you have to soak the seeds for 24 hours in tepid water. At home it is grown in pots. The pots should have multiple drainage holes, and while planting in the bed, the soil should be well drained. Seeds should be sown half an inch deep in the soil and placed in a sunny spot. The soil should be moist during the germination period; hence covering it with plastic is a good idea. A good air circulation is vital for the growth and germination of the seeds; hence you should provide sufficient gap while covering the pots with plastic. This can also prevent fungal growth. Seeds need warm soil, above about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 °C), to germinate.

Water

Watering is very essential for the Guarana plants. It requires regular watering until germination starts to occur.

Care

As a measure of good care, the Guarana requires fertilizers every month. As it is a climbing shrub, it requires a location where sunlight reaches all the parts of the plant. Water the plant in the early morning before the sun reaches the plant. As it grows tall, a support should be provided in the growing period. Prune the old and diseased branches that make the plant saggy. Branches once flowered should also be pruned to bring down the weight of the shrub, allowing it to grow easily. Trim the unwanted new shoots and store it for new plant if desired.

Harvest

The Guarana plants are harvested for their seeds and berries. In the Amazon Basin it is harvested as a sustainable rainforest product. Their seeds are used to make powder. This powder is rich in caffeine. It is harvested in the dry season by hand.

Pests and Disease

The Guarana plant contains caffeine and is a natural protection from pests as it repels pests away from plant without harming the Shrub. It contains alkaloids, Polyphenols, Terpenes, Flavonoids and Tannins. They also protect the plant from pests. It is little troubled by pests.

Uses

Guarana seeds contain caffeine, the same substance found in coffee and tea, so guarana is mostly used to help people feel more awake. It is a common ingredient in soft drinks, energy drinks, teas, sweets and chewing gum, and in Brazil guarana soda is one of the most popular drinks. In Amazon traditions, guarana has also been used for tiredness, headaches and upset stomachs. Because it contains a lot of caffeine, guarana drinks are not recommended for children. Traditional uses include:

• To feel more alert and less tired

Related: Yerba Mate

Guarana FAQs