The Guarana Company

Great selection of Guara products, along with superfoods like goji berries, cacao, and more. They also have some great guara drinks as well.
I love the Acai smoothie, and get it almost everytime I go. Chill place, free wifi, nice room upstairs too. Fun to meet friends there for a mid day chat.

What with mephodrone the talk of the tabloids at the moment after some unfortunate overdoses, the media glare has been turned on ‘head’ shops such as these which sell the legal high. The funny and contradictory thing with The Guarana Company is that while it presents itself as an epicentre of progressive, good-​living, a shop-​café full of health-​boosting substances, super foods and the like, it trades in muck like meow meow, which I think we can all agree isn’t healthy in the slightest. But putting these misgivings aside, there’s a large range hedonism-​enablers, should you require them, including additive-​free tobacco, protein suppliants, herbal stimulants, and smoking paraphernalia. The music is spacey like the regulars, but if you’re going there for a reason you don’t need me to tell you what it’s like.

Guarana Company is pretty famous among Brighton students, and it’s pretty obvious why: advertising itself as a place where legal highs are available, for low prices. As well as the legal high trade, Guarana also offers smoothies and the like, often laced with their pop-​medicinal (borrowed from Mike’s review — great phrase) products. I’ve never really been the druggy type, but really enjoyed myself here: there’s so much on offer, and so many different things to try.
I’m not sure if Guarana gets much trade as a smoothie bar, I certainly wasn’t aware it was one until popping my nose in. However, the drinks there are certainly worth trying, although they are a bit on the pricey side: everything tastes very natural and flavoursome, and the little kick you get from them is very pleasant and not too powerful. I don’t think it’ll ever replace the street-​level stuff, but is genuinely pleasant for a little while.
I resisted the temptation to purchase any of Guarana’s more select products, as they were also a little pricey, as well as being a bit of a luxury. Also, I’ve always contended that I’m happier living my life by my own mind, not by adding to it, but I think I may be the exception among Brighton’s younger inhabitants! If you’re looking for something a little different, this may be for you: try the herbal alternative!
I think Guarana might suffer a little under the herbal-​highs banner: it seemed to be being avoided by plenty of people as I left. I think Brighton does labour a little under its ‘druggy’ stigma, and there’s more than a few people who’d be happier if places like Guarana weren’t around. I’m not one to judge here: I generally say live and let live, so if this doesn’t appeal to you, don’t worry, and if it does, why not try it out? If you’re already taking drugs, you’d think something purely natural would be better? Or have I missed the point of them entirely?

Serving various milkshakes, protein mixes, nuts, berries, roots and even bee pollen the Guarana Bar is perhaps Brighton’s trendiest place to get pop-​medicinal substances. While the effectiveness of some of their stock is debatable one can’t deny the revitalising qualities of a good fruit smoothie, especially if it contains Guarana powder. This famous stimulant comes from the seeds or the fruit of the Portuguese Guarana plant, the effects of which have caused somewhat of a cult following among herb enthusiasts and fans of alternative therapy. If you fancy checking out how you can improve your concentration or even your libido perhaps you should give this place a visit and see what tickles your fancy.

Although this place is predominantly known as the retailer of guarana stimulants and those infamous legal highs, this is also an excellent place for a smoothie if you’re on a new year health kick — with a great atmosphere and friendly staff. You’ll also find health foods, and fun items worth a browse like aphrodisiacs!