Tubaína – a tribute to a good friend

                Many here in the United States have heard of guaraná, a brazilian soda which comes from the actual fruit called guaraná. But there’s another Brazilian drink very similar to it that has a place just a little more special in me. It’s called Tubaína. I’ll be honest, it was most common during my parents generation, but once in a while I still had it as a kid. It tastes very similar to Guarana but something about the fact that it’s still only found in glass bottles and that I’ve only had it around those who are close to me makes it unique for me.

                The name Tubaína was made up by the Italian Pedro Pattini. It was first for his candy, but once he began to also produce sodas he simply used the same name. Eventually the candy ran out of business but the sodas carried on.

I thought Tubaína was long gone, but in my trip to Brazil this last summer, my good friend Ana Lúcia surprised me with a six-pack of glass-bottled Tubaína! I was blown away and here they are…