There are many reasonably priced and delicious foods in the region compared to Tokyo, and I would highly recommend the guarana of Hokkaido.
Hmm? What is guarana? Many of you may be wondering.
A guarana is a drink loved by the people of Hokkaido and is said to have been introduced to the market to compete with cola.
This guarana was once drunk as a nourishing drink in Brazil, its home country, and was familiarly positioned as an energy drink in the same way it is today.
People in Hokkaido often drink it when they are a little tired or want to refresh themselves.
So, in this article, I will explain about Hokkaido’s soul drink “guarana,” its history, appealing points, recommended guarana, and sightseeing spots in Hokkaido, while also sharing my experience.
I hope you will find this article a good opportunity to learn about Hokkaido’s guarana drink.
How did Hokkaido’s guarana drink come about in the first place?
Guarana, the raw material for guarana beverage, is a member of the family Musaceae that is native to the Amazon River basin in Brazil, and has long been used as a medicinal and tonic drink by the local indigenous people.
In 1958, guarana drink was developed by the National Federation of Soft Drink Cooperative Associations in response to information that Coca-Cola was about to land in Japan, in order to compete with Coca-Cola.
At the time, the mainstream carbonated beverages in Japan were ramune and cider, and the association, fearing that Coca-Cola would dominate the domestic market, focused on guarana beverages as a reason why Coca-Cola could not dominate the market in Brazil.
The guarana beverage, which originated in Brazil, was modified for the Japanese market in preparation for a showdown with Coke.
Thus, “Co-up guarana” was born, and was completed and distributed nationwide one year before Coca-Cola arrived in Japan.
Why did the guarana beverage take root in Hokkaido?
Initially, guarana beverages were so successful that 20 million bottles were sold annually.
However, once cola arrived in Japan, the beverage struggled nationwide, and the number of companies producing it gradually declined.
However, the situation was different in Hokkaido.
There was a three-year gap between the arrival of cola from Honshu and Hokkaido, during which time guarana beverages succeeded in gaining the support of the local people.
In addition, Hokkaido’s cold climate tends to favor sweetened beverages, which helped guarana beverages to penetrate the island.
Thus, the taste of guarana took root in Hokkaido before cola was imported, and continued to be popular even after cola was imported.
The secret of its popularity lies not only in its predecessor advantage before cola landed, but also in the fact that its distinctive bitter, medicinal, and sweet flavor continued to be loved by the people of Hokkaido.
Heh. It is interesting that only in Hokkaido, the promotion of cola was delayed, while guarana beverages survived and became familiar to Hokkai-do residents…
Three Attractions of Hokkaido’s Guarana Beverages
I have summarized some of the attractions of Hokkaido’s guarana beverages.
Unique local identity
For Hokkaido’s residents, guarana beverages are more than just a drink; they are a local identity to be proud of.
Surveys show that 95% of Hokkaido residents have drunk guarana, and it has become a symbol of “Hokkaido-ness” that attracts the attention of tourists.
It is interesting to note that although guarana did not originally originate in Hokkaido, Koap guarana, which was sold throughout the country, ultimately survived only in Hokkaido and remains a “typical Hokkaido drink” today.
This phenomenon is not a coincidence, but has a historical background in that Coca-Cola arrived in Hokkaido three years later than in Honshu.
During that time, guarana beverage became popular among Hokkaido residents, and even after the arrival of cola, its popularity has not waned, and it continues to be loved as “the soul drink of Hokkaido residents” to this day.
This one-of-a-kind presence is a special experience for foreign visitors to Japan that can only be experienced in Hokkaido.
Variety and flavor exploration
There is no single manufacturer of guarana beverages in Hokkaido; each company sells guarana with its own unique characteristics.
Representative examples include Kohara Corporation’s Co-up guarana, Kirin Beverage’s Kirin guarana, and Seicomart’s Secoma guarana, each of which offers a different taste experience.
Each guarana has a different balance of distinctive bitterness, medicinal taste, and sweetness, and although they may look similar, they offer completely different tastes.
Many fans enjoy comparing the flavors of the same guarana in different containers, such as bottles, PET bottles, and cans.
There are also many regional guaranas, such as Hokkaido Kanko Bussan Kosha’s “Shirakuma Guarana” and “Brown Guarana” and Furano City’s “Furano Natural Water-brewed Guarana,” making it a pleasure to discover different guaranas depending on where you visit.
A trip to explore the different flavors of each region of Hokkaido through guarana beverages will provide an opportunity for foreign visitors to Japan to discover the charms of Hokkaido in a new way.
Value as a healthy superfood
The appeal of guarana beverages lies not only in their taste, but also in their health benefits.
Guarana contains “guaranine,” which is similar to caffeine and has a stimulant effect as well as a tonic effect.
Furthermore, guarana fruit is rich in tannin and catechin as well as caffeine, and is expected to relieve fatigue and have a tonic effect.
Even in its native Brazil, guarana is attracting attention as a superfood with high nutritional value.
Specifically, the catechins contained in guarana have an antioxidant effect about 20 times greater than that of vitamin E. They also have the effect of suppressing the rise in blood sugar levels and moderating the absorption of fat.
With its refreshing sweetness and unique flavor, guarana beverage is the perfect beverage to convey the appeal of healthy and delicious Hokkaido to foreign visitors to Japan.
Indeed. Interesting that it’s not only unique to each company, but also has value as a healthy superfood…
My recommendation for guarana beverages in Hokkaido
In this article, I will introduce my recommended guarana beverages from Hokkaido, as well as my recommendations and where to purchase them.
My recommendation for guarana beverages in Hokkaido
My recommendation for guarana beverages in Hokkaido
Co-up Guarana
✅ Recommended Points
- Co-up Guarana is a carbonated beverage that was created in 1960 and is representative of Hokkaido.
- The word “Co-up” is a coined word combining “CO-OPERATION” meaning “cooperation” and “UP” meaning “uplifting.
- Ltd., which has a factory in Nanae Town in southern Hokkaido.
- The drink is made with natural water from Yokotsudake near Hakodate and fructose butane sugar made mainly from potatoes grown in Hokkaido.
- It is not highly carbonated, so it is smooth to the tongue, and has a slightly medicinal taste, which is characteristic of guarana.
- It is popular for its clean, fruity taste with a relatively low sweetness, and because it does not have a strong guarana taste, it is easy for anyone to drink.
✅ Examples of where to purchase
- Co-up Guarana is available at most supermarkets and convenience stores in Hokkaido.
- The PET bottle (500ml/1500ml) type is the most common and easiest to obtain, while the reissued antique bottle bottles (230ml) can be purchased at souvenir stores in Hokkaido.
- Special packages for tourists are also available, especially at New Chitose Airport and souvenir stores in tourist areas, such as white bear and bear outing warning.
- It is also available at major tourist spots in Hokkaido, Hokkaido product stores, and stores in JR stations.
- It is also used as an ingredient in a local highball called “Hakodate Gutsu Lemon” at taverns in Hakodate.
Kirin Guarana
✅ Recommended Points
- Kirin Guarana is a carbonated beverage sold only in Hokkaido, first introduced by Kirin Beverage in 1982.
- Since its release, it has long been a favorite of the people of Hokkaido, and is characterized by its “sharp throat feel that matches the peculiarly peculiar flavor of guarana and the stimulation of carbonation.
- The package is stylishly designed in red and black, with a distinctive pitch-black liquid, the aroma is unique, and the flavor and sweetness are well forward.
- The taste is more strongly carbonated than other guarana beverages, and is considered to be the closest in taste to cola among the three guaranas to be compared, and is also characterized by its acidity.
- It has relatively few peculiarities, making it suitable for first-time guarana drinkers, and it is especially exceptional when drunk chilled.
✅ Examples of where to purchase
- Kirin Guarana is available in PET bottles (500ml/1500ml) and cans (350ml and 300ml bottled cans), and is one of the most readily available guarana drinks in Hokkaido.
- It is sold at most convenience stores and supermarkets in Hokkaido, and is especially likely to be found at Family Mart and Lawson rather than 7-Eleven.
- In Sapporo, it is also available at Kita Kitchen in Odori Station and Lawson in the departure lobby of New Chitose Airport.
- It may also be found at Hokkaido product fairs such as Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza (Yurakucho, Tokyo).
- Outside of Hokkaido, you can also buy a case of these products through mail-order websites.
Secoma Guarana
✅ Recommended Points
- Secoma Guarana is a private brand guarana drink sold by Seicomart (a.k.a. Seikoma), a local convenience store in Hokkaido, and is introduced as a Seicomart original product as “the carbonated drink that Hokkai-do residents love.
- It looks like a pitch-black liquid similar to Kirin Guarana, with a strong aroma and a concentrated guarana drink flavor, although the characteristic medicinal taste is quite noticeable.
- Compared to other guarana drinks, it is darker in color and could be mistaken for cola in appearance.
- Secoma Guarana is unique in its sweetness compared to others, as it has a strong sweetness, but also has an aroma and a low sweetness impression.
- It also has a strong flavor unique to guarana beverages, and is favored by Michiganders as a familiar taste.
✅ Examples of where to purchase
- Secoma Guarana is available at approximately 1,200 Seicomart stores in Hokkaido.
- In addition to regular Secoma Guarana, Seicomart also sells Strong Sparkling Guarana (soda water with the flavor of guarana added), Guarana Sour (4% alcohol by volume), and Kororo Garana, a garana-flavored gummi.
- Seicomart operates not only in Hokkaido, but also in some parts of the Kanto region, including Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures.
- It is sold in cases of 24 500 ml PET bottles, and can also be selected as a return gift for Chitose City’s hometown tax payment.
Oh. Each guarana drink has its own characteristics, so it’s really hard to decide which one to choose…
Column: Column What are the benefits of guarana?
The guarana beverage, a specialty drink of Hokkaido, has a variety of health benefits.
Its main ingredient, caffeine called guaranine, contains about three times as much caffeine as coffee, but it is absorbed slowly into the body and has a long-lasting, mild stimulant effect that reduces fatigue while improving concentration and memory.
It is also rich in polyphenols such as catechins and saponins, which are 20 times more potent antioxidants than vitamin E, contributing to anti-aging and improving immunity.
In addition, it can be expected to suppress the rise in blood glucose levels and inhibit the absorption of fat, and together with its metabolism-promoting effects, it is also useful for weight loss.
This drink, rooted in the Hokkaido climate, is an ideal choice to support good health along with its refreshing taste.
Heh. So in addition to improving concentration, it also promotes metabolism and helps with weight loss…
Spots to stop by while getting a guarana drink in Hokkaido
Here are three recommended places to stop by in Hokkaido during getting a guarana drink in Hokkaido.
✅ Shiroi Koibito Park
Shiroi Koibito Park is a popular tourist facility where you can enjoy the various charms of chocolate and other confections and visit the factory where the famous Hokkaido confectionary “Shiroi Koibito” is manufactured.
The park is easily accessible from central Sapporo, about 35 minutes on the Tozai Line from Sapporo Subway Station, and about a 7-minute walk from Miyanosawa Station.
The facility is divided into two areas: a free area and a paid area. The free area includes “Shop Piccadilly,” “Tudor House,” “Courtyard,” and “Karakuri Clock Tower.
The fee-based area is called “Chocotopia,” where visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences, attractions, and factory tours.
At the store, you can purchase “Shiroi Koibito” as well as guarana beverages only available in Hokkaido.
