An energetic boost of natural power: guarana powder. What properties does it have?

Looking for a natural source of energy to help you overcome fatigue and improve concentration? In extreme moments, a serving of yerba mate may not be enough. However, there is one way to enhance mate tea and make it a truly legendary elixir of power. Guarana powder – it's the secret ingredient that fights even the greatest fatigue! How to use it, what properties does it have and where to buy it? We answer all your questions in today's blog post.

Summary:

1. Guarana – a tropical plant from the rainforest
2. Guarana powder and its miraculous properties
3. Caffeine and other valuable substances. What is found in guarana?
4. In which form should guarana powder be used? How to drink it?
5. Guarana powder for stimulation. Are there any contraindications?
6. Guarana – one of the many wonders of the Guarani Indians

Guarana – a tropical plant from the rainforest

In the thicket of the Brazilian jungle, amidst lush vegetation, stretches the Amazon basin. This is where guarana grows – a true treasure of the Amazon! Guarana, or actually Paullinia cupana, as it is officially called in the botanical classification, takes the form of a vine that can reach up to 10 metres in length. Its most characteristic feature is its fruit – round, bright red berries. They are immediately striking – literally look like eyes. When they ripen, they open to reveal black and white seeds. There is a legend associated with the unusual appearance of the guarana fruit, which we have already written about on our blog in the past. Guarana has been known and valued for centuries by the indigenous people of the Amazon – the Guarani Indians. They used various parts of the plant, but the most valuable were the seeds hidden inside the fruit. The Indians extracted the seeds from the plucked fruit, washed them thoroughly and dried them in the hot sun, and when the seeds were completely dry, they ground them into a fine powder using a makeshift wooden mortar. Guarana, in the form of a finely ground powder, found numerous uses in the daily lives of the Indians. They believed in its immense power and – like yerba mate – considered it a “gift from the gods”. Many years later, studies have confirmed that there is indeed something in the guarana. What exactly? Read on!

Guarana powder and its miraculous properties

What interested the Indians most about guarana, apart from the amazing appearance of the fruit, was its effect. After consuming guarana, they felt a surge of energy. The stimulation and improved concentration were useful for hunting. The Indians mixed pure guarana powder with water and made a paste. They formed it into balls and dried it in the sun and sometimes smoked it over a campfire. This was a reliable way of preserving the properties of guarana for as long as possible, which allowed larger stocks to be made. To prepare a stimulating drink, they would place the finished “guarana ball” in a vessel, add water and muddle the whole thing.

Guarana drink, as well as powdered guarana itself, was also used as a “cure” for many ailments, including heart or kidney problems, muscle pain, migraine, menstrual pain and digestive problems. Some even believed that guarana was a way of preserving youth, while others used it as an aphrodisiac. Above all, however, the Indians believed that there was magical power in guarana, given to them by the gods. Many years later, studies have shown that there are no supernatural powers behind the plant's extraordinary effects, but the pure “magic” of nature and science.

Caffeine and other valuable substances. What is found in guarana?

As it turned out, caffeine is responsible for the stimulating effect of guarana. And quite a lot of it! Scientific sources report that guarana seeds contain between 2.5 up to even 6% of caffeine, while after processing, depending on the processing method used, the caffeine content of guarana may be as high as 9.8-11%! Guarana seeds therefore contain significantly more caffeine than yerba mate leaves or coffee beans. It is no wonder that it has a stimulating effect, which was of interest to the Guarani Indians hundreds of years ago and is now of interest to food and supplement manufacturers and lovers of natural energy sources. In addition to caffeine, guarana contains many other valuable substances, including: theobromine and theophylline, polyphenols, saponins, tannins and essential oils. Guarana is also rich in nutritional value: proteins, sugars, fibre and starch. Although scientific research has not confirmed many of guarana's folk uses, such as an aphrodisiac effect or a cure for migraine, there is no doubt that guarana (in powder or any other form) has a strong antioxidant effect and aids metabolism in the body.

In which form should guarana powder be used? How to drink it?

You do not need to make a long journey to the Amazon jungle to enjoy the benefits of guarana. Guarana in the form of whole, dried seeds, powder or tablets can be purchased in stationary herbal and health food shops or – even simpler – on the internet. Ground guarana powder can be found in our shop, among others. Guarana powder by Vivarini is available in several weight variants, from 20g to 1kg, in conventional and organic versions. In powdered form, it is the best and most versatile. You can add guarana powder to yoghurt, fruit smoothies, tea or coffee – it will give you energy for the whole day! Combining it with yerba mate is also a great idea. The stimulating properties of guarana with the antioxidants that mate tea is rich in will be a real bomb for your body! If you want, you can also simply prepare a stimulating guarana drink – just like the Indians used to do.

Guarana drink recipe

What do you need?

• 1 teaspoon of guarana powder
• approx. 200 ml of cold water
• optional: juice of half a lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey

Drink with guarana powder – preparation:

1. Pour the guarana into a glass or a cup.
2. Add cold water.
3. Guarana powder has a specific, bitter-tart taste, so add lemon juice and a little honey to the drink if you wish.
4. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
5. Done! The natural energy drink is ready to be consumed.

Guarana powder for stimulation. Are there any contraindications?

Are you enthralled by the miraculous properties of guarana powder? Before you start adding it to everything – check what the dosage recommendations! In guarana powder – as we mentioned earlier – the caffeine content is around 2.5-6%. That's a lot, and being careless, you can easily overdose. The side effects of a caffeine overdose can manifest themselves in, among other things: insomnia, nervousness or stomach problems. The maximum daily dose of guarana powder is around 50-75 mg, but every body is different, so it is advisable to start dosing with smaller portions and gradually increase them, observing your own body's reaction. On the other hand, guarana should definitely be avoided by those sensitive to caffeine, those suffering from high blood pressure, pregnant women and breastfeeding mums.

Guarana – one of the many wonders of the Guarani Indians

This is probably all we have been able to gather about guarana powder. Finally, we have prepared a brief summary of the most important information:

• full name of the plant and origin of guarana: Paullinia cupana, Amazon basin, Brazil, South America
• forms in which guarana can be purchased and used: dried whole seeds, powdered form, tablets
• guarana powder – caffeine content: 2.5 to 6%
• gguarana powder – dosage – how much per day? the recommended maximum guarana dose is around 50-75 mg
• guarana powder – what to drink and how to consume? can be mixed with water, added to yerba mate, tea, coffee or yoghurt
• guarana powder – where to buy? online – MateMundo.co.uk; stationary – in herbal shops and some pharmacies

If you constantly feel tired, need a really strong dose of energy and yerba mate and coffee are not enough for you, guarana is something that can revolutionise your life! Thanks to its numerous properties and, above all, its high caffeine content, guarana is becoming increasingly popular among those looking for a natural source of energy and daily concentration support. Add a little guarana to your mate tea, pre-workout shake or bulletproof coffee and you will see how much good it can do! However, remember moderation, always follow the dosage recommendations and guarana will become your ally in the daily fight against fatigue.

Source of information:

1. Wikipedia: Guarana.
2. F. C. Schimpl et al., Guarana: Revisiting a highly caffeinated plant from the Amazon, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013.
3. E. Torres et al., Effects of the consumption of guarana on human health: A narrative review, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2021.