Other Names: Paullinia cupana, Brazilian cocoa

The word "Guarana" comes from the Portuguese guaraná, and the plant was named for the Brazilian Guarani tribe. 

Guarana played an important role in Tupi and Guaraní Brazilian culture. According to an ancient myth, a beloved village child was killed by a serpent god.  A kinder god took the left eye from the child and planted it in the forest, causing wild Guarana to grow.  He then took the right eye and planted it in the village, resulting in the domestic form of the plant.

It is easy to find the the basis for this myth. The fruit of the Guarana looks very much like an eyeball with a small dark seed surrounded by white aril.

The Guaranís make Guarana into a tea by shelling and washing the seeds, and them pounding them into a fine powder. The powder is kneaded into a dough and then shaped into cylinders. This product is known as Guarana bread or Brazilian cocoa, which would be grated and then immersed into hot water along with sugar.

Guarana was introduced to western civilization in the 17th century following its discovery by Father Felip Betendorf. By 1958, Guarana was commercialized.

From Guarana History & Culture to Why Guarana?

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