Guaraná Antarctica — the Brazilian drink made from the guaraná fruit
Guaraná Antarctica is an iconic Brazilian sparkling soft drink created in 1921. It is made with extract of guaraná — a fruit from the Amazon — and has been one of Brazil’s most recognisable drinks for over a century.
What the drink is
Guaraná Antarctica is an amber-coloured sparkling soft drink with a soft, distinctive flavour. Its base is an extract from the seeds of the guaraná plant (Paullinia cupana), a climbing vine from the Amazon basin whose fruit has been part of indigenous life in Brazil for centuries.
Where colas are dominated by caramel and spice notes, and citrus sodas by sharp acidity, guaraná offers a third thing: a mild, lightly fruity taste often described as close to apple, finishing with a berry-like note.
In Brazil the drink long ago outgrew the category of an ordinary soft drink — it is part of everyday life, from family lunches to street food and the beach.
The essentials
Created: 1921, Brazil
Type: sparkling soft drink
Base: guaraná fruit extract
For Europe: Sumol+Compal, Portugal
Taste: mild, lightly fruity
From 1921 to today
The drink was created in 1921 by Pedro Baptista de Andrade for Companhia Antarctica Paulista, one of Brazil’s oldest brewing and soft-drink companies. The idea was simple and ambitious at once: build a carbonated drink around a fruit already deeply rooted in Brazilian culture.
Over the following century the brand became part of the national identity. Today Guaraná Antarctica is produced by Ambev — the largest brewer in Latin America and part of the AB InBev group — and is bottled in five countries: Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Bolivia and Japan.
The brand also has a long history in sport and advertising. Among its more memorable campaigns is a 2006 commercial featuring the Argentine footballer Diego Maradona.
What it tastes like
The most common description of Guaraná Antarctica is “mild and slightly apple-like, with a berry after-flavour”. It reads as gentler than a typical cola and considerably less sharp than citrus sodas.
That mildness is exactly what makes it easy to pair. In Brazil it is served well chilled, often over ice with a wedge of lime, and accompanies both street food and fuller meals.
The recipe is straightforward: carbonated water, sugar, caramel colour, citric acid, preservatives (sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate), guaraná extract and natural flavourings.
Made in Europe by Sumol+Compal
The drink LA Associates imports into Bulgaria is produced in Portugal by Sumol+Compal — one of the country’s leading beverage producers and the official producer of Guaraná Antarctica for the European market.
That means an authentic product made within the European Union, with a short and traceable supply line — from Portugal directly to our warehouse in Sofia, with no intermediaries.
Sumol+Compal
A major Portuguese beverage company and the European producer of Guaraná Antarctica, trusted across markets for quality and consistency.
Formats and delivery in Bulgaria
LA Associates supplies Guaraná Antarctica to retailers and venues in Sofia and across Bulgaria — minimarkets, streetfood restaurants, cafés, bars and coworking spaces.
Quantities are matched to the venue, from single cases for small sites to regular deliveries for multi-site operators.
- 330 ml can — the standard format for the European market.
- 24 units per case.
Frequently asked questions
What is Guaraná Antarctica?
A sparkling soft drink from Brazil, created in 1921 and made with extract of the guaraná fruit. It is produced for the European market by Sumol+Compal in Portugal.
Does it contain caffeine?
Yes, but only a small amount — noticeably less than an ordinary cola of the same volume. Guaraná seeds are genuinely rich in caffeine in their raw state, but the finished drink uses extract at a low concentration, so its caffeine content stays low.
Is Guaraná Antarctica an energy drink?
No. It is an ordinary sparkling soft drink — in kind and in use it sits much closer to a cola or a lemonade than to anything in the energy-drink category.
Where is the drink produced for Europe?
In Portugal, by Sumol+Compal. The product we import is made within the European Union.
How is it best served?
Well chilled. In Brazil it is often served over ice with a wedge of lime, and venues also use it as a base for non-alcoholic cocktails.
Where can I find Guaraná Antarctica in Bulgaria?
LA Associates is the importer and distributor for Bulgaria and works with retailers and venues. If you represent a shop, restaurant or bar, get in touch for a quote.