Guaraná Antartica Recipe

Prepare sugar syrup

Combine 300 ml water and 250 g granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture just reaches a gentle simmer. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature (about 15–20 minutes). If you want a clearer syrup, skim any foam off the top while warm.

Optional: While the syrup is hot, stir in 1 tsp citric acid to help preserve brightness and shelf life. Cool completely before proceeding.

Combine flavorings

In a heatproof measuring cup or bowl, combine 120 ml guaraná syrup or concentrate, 2 tsp vanilla extract and 15 ml fresh lime juice. If you are using concentrated guaraná extract instead of syrup, start with 30–60 ml extract diluted into the cooled simple syrup, and add more to taste up to 120 ml equivalent. Add 2 drops natural guaraná flavoring if using (this is optional and very strong).

Stir the cooled simple syrup into the guaraná-flavor mixture until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust: add a little more lime juice for brightness, more syrup for sweetness, or a touch more citric acid (up to 1/2 tsp additional) for tartness.

Carbonation (bottle method)

If you have pre-chilled carbonated water: slowly pour 1.5 L chilled carbonated water into a large pitcher, then very gently stir in the guaraná-syrup mixture to avoid losing bubbles. Stir with a long spoon using slow strokes until evenly mixed. Taste and adjust: for a sweeter soda add up to 30 ml additional simple syrup; for stronger guaraná flavor add up to 15–30 ml more concentrate.

Carbonation (home carbonator)

If you use a SodaStream or similar home carbonation system, combine the cooled simple syrup + guaraná flavorings with ~1 L plain chilled water (note: do not carbonate syrup directly—carbonate plain water then gently mix in the flavored syrup). After carbonating the plain water according to your machine, transfer it to a chilled pitcher and gently stir in the prepared guaraná mixture until homogenous.

Chill the finished soda for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator if needed. Serve over ice in tall glasses and garnish each glass with a lime wheel or wedge.

Store any unused guaraná soda in sealed bottles in the refrigerator for up to 3–5 days. If you prepared concentrated guaraná syrup, store the syrup in a sealed jar refrigerated for up to 2 weeks; always mix syrup with carbonated water just before serving to maintain effervescence.