Guarana (, from the
Portuguese guaraná ),
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).