Natural high: Brazil's Guarana growers ditch chemicals for ancient knowledge

[Judi Lynn]

For the Guarana growers of the Amazon, the caffeine-rich berries aren't just a fortifying brew but part of ancient tradition that respects their rainforest home.

Date 13.06.2019
Author Detlef Urban

- video at link -

Project goal: Growing Guarana without chemical pesticides to preserve the Amazon rainforest and cultural tradition

Project implementation: A farmer's cooperative is using indigenous techniques to grow rainforest. Guarana that has four times as much caffeine as its counterpart plants grown by the drinks industry, and is finding new ways to market its produce

Partner institutions: The Agricultores Familiares do Alto Urupadi (AAFAU) farming cooperative is one of the sustainable farming initiatives in the Amazon basin supported with consulting from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit as part of its Green Markets and Sustainable Consumption project

Guarana is rich in caffeine. Richer even than coffee, if it's grown right. Which is why international drinks companies have a presence in Maues, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, where it's produced. But the Guarana they use for their energy sodas is grown with lots of artificial pesticides or fertilizers. Indigenous communities, meanwhile, have their own techniques for cultivating Guarana deep in the rainforest without upsetting natural ecosystems. For them, the plant isn't just a habitual morning brew, it also has deep cultural significance, woven into ancient myths and legends.

https://www.dw.com/en/natural-high-brazils-guarana-growers-ditch-chemicals-for-ancient-knowledge/a-49073771

[Control-Z]

1. K&R

I'm bookmarking this to read in the morning.

Thank you, Judi Lynn, for what looks to be another of your fascinating science-y (I know that's not a real word but it works for me at this late hour) posts.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Hi, Control-Z. It's always a total learning experience for me looking for these things.

Had never heard of this plant until seeing the article. I was completely surprised.

Thank you, so much.

We all are learning at the same time reading in this forum!

[Igel]

3. I ran into guarana in '82.

Old woman in the church I was in said how wonderful it was. Gave her energy and got her up in the morning, which was great--she avoided coffee, she said, because of all the caffeine. She said how much better she felt after giving up her daily fix of caffeine! That, according to the former-counterculture-gal-turned-entrepreneur at the local herb/spice mart around the corner.

I looked up what this magical herb was. I limit my caffeine intake, always have, and so I avoided her caffeine-free super-caffeinated wonder herb.

They tried to get me to like hierba mate, too. Perhaps it would work as a mulch ...

[sandensea]

4. Ah, yerba mate.

It's an acquired taste, that's true. But it really keeps you going once you get used to it.



Argentine forward Lionel Messi and Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who have credited the bitter South American tea for improved endurance.

Earlobe biting optional.

[Control-Z]

5. "Ah, yerba mate."

It's been a while but I used to drink it daily. My pain doctor recommended it (not for pain or anything to do with pain). It was just a natural (better for you) caffeinated tea. I enjoyed my very first sip and drank it exclusively throughout the day for a year or two.

[sandensea]

6. I tell you, if it weren't so bitter it would probably outsell coffee

It does, in fact, in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

Those countries have life expectancies almost as high as the U.S. - despite high levels of smoking and beef consumption, and higher levels of poverty (especially Paraguay).

Must be el mate.

Obama trying yerba mate in Buenos Aires in 2016. Seeing people enjoy it in this traditional way (gourd and silver alloy straw) is a common sight in southern South America.