If you’re wondering how to make tea from soursop leaves, you’ve come to the right place!
I came across soursop tea only very recently and I was very curious. As I learned more, I became intrigued and I ordered a bunch of fresh soursop leaves myself and made tea from it.
I drank the tea regularly for 4 weeks and was fascinated by the results, which I will share in another article. But in this article. I’ll tell you how to make soursop leaves tea.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- What is soursop tea?
- Purported health benefits of soursop tea
- Side effects of soursop
- Where do I get soursop leaves?
- How to dry soursop leaves
- How to make tea from soursop leaves
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The information in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The consumption and/or application of tea and/or tea-related products and their purported benefits may vary from person to person.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
What is soursop tea and where did it come from?
Soursop tea is allegedly the new wonder tea with all its purported health benefits, though some are highly controversial.
The tea is made from the leaves of the soursop plant. Soursop (Annona muricata) originated in the Caribbean and goes by different names: guanabana, paw-paw, sirsak, graviola.
The fruit is green with spikes on the outside and contains sweet and sour white flesh on the inside, with a taste that’s often described as a mix between strawberries and apples.
Soursop tea tastes similar to green tea but has a woodier flavor. The smell can be off-putting for some but I’ve found it to be quite soothing.
While recently many cosmetics companies have been advertising their products with soursop as the active ingredient and influencers are swearing by the tea’s benefits, soursop is far from new!
It is one of the most common plants grown in home gardens in many Caribbean and African countries. Soursop fruit and tea have been a part of their culture for thousands of years.
‘Champola’, which is soursop with milk, is very popular and commonly consumed in the Dominican Republic.
Purported health benefits of soursop tea
Soursop is said to have many health benefits, mostly because it is very high in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect against free radicals, which are responsible for aging and many diseases.
There have been many reports of how soursop improves gut health, skin, hair, protects the heart, etc.
Soursop also contains antimicrobial compounds like tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins – many of these are why green tea is so healthy. Thus, soursop also reportedly fights bacteria and fungi and consequently reduces acne.
Additionally, many people have long been using soursop leaf tea for sleep as it’s said to act as a sedative.
However, the truth is that while several studies have shown many positive effects of soursop, most of these studies are limited to cell culture and animals.
More vigorous research is needed to substantiate how soursop benefits humans.
The problem is that many vendors unethically sell soursop and soursop-related products, marketing them as cancer medicine with other similarly wild claims.
While there is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting soursop’s health benefits, they are not all backed by science. Therefore, soursop has become a controversial topic.
But below are some of the purported health benefits of soursop:
- Helps fight against bacteria
- Boosts immunity
- Reduces inflammation
- Stabilizes blood pressure and diabetes
- Improves digestion
- High in antioxidants and anti-aging
- Potentially anti-carcinogenic
- Reduces acne
- Fights dandruff
- Prevents hair fall
- Kills head lice
- Promotes deep sleep
Side effects of soursop
There have been some studies linking the consumption of soursop fruit and tea with diseases similar to Parkinson’s. But similar to the benefits, the side effects of soursop also need more research.
However, it’s still best to err on the side of caution. It is recommended to take a 10-day break after drinking soursop tea for thirty days.
There is also evidence of soursop interacting with blood pressure and diabetes medication. So if you are on meds for hypertension or diabetes, it’s best to steer clear of soursop.
Additionally, some people have reported feeling nauseous after taking too much soursop.
Soursop seeds are also very toxic and should not be eaten.
Where do I get soursop leaves?
The ideal scenario is you have a giant soursop tree in your backyard. So, then you just pluck fresh leaves from the plant and make your tea.
But not all of us have the luxury of doing that.
Nowadays, you can buy packaged dried soursop leaves. There are online stores and many options available on Amazon. You can also buy soursop tea bags from Amazon.
Locally, vendors may sell fresh soursop leaves. You can use fresh soursop leaves to make tea as well. But if you want to store the leaves long-term, you will have to dry them first. Keep reading to find out how.
If you’ve bought a pack of dried soursop leaves, you can skip ahead to the next section to learn how to make tea from soursop leaves.
How to make tea from soursop leaves
How to dry soursop leaves:
Step 1: Separate leaves that look damaged or appear to be eaten by bugs or microbes.
Step 2: Wash the leaves well to get rid of dirt.
Step 3: Dry the leaves for about a week under the shade in a basket. Ensure the leaves are spread out.
Step 4: After a week, cut the leaves into small pieces with a pair of scissors and store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Here’s how to make tea from soursop leaves:
Step 5: Boil 1.25 cups of water.
Step 6: Add 1 tbsp of dried, shredded soursop leaves to the boiling water and give it a stir to ensure all the leaves are soaked.
Step 7: Cover with a lid and turn off the stove.
Step 8: Let the soursop leaves steep for 3-5 minutes, then pour through a strainer into a cup.
Step 9: Add honey, lime, or mint to elevate the taste or mask the smell if it bothers you.
Step 10: Enjoy your soursop tea!
Leave a comment below to let me know how you liked your soursop tea and if you found any benefits. I drank soursop tea for 4 weeks because I wanted to see for myself what the hype was about.
I recorded the results for you and I’ll publish it soon in the upcoming articles. Keep an eye out!
FAQ on how to make tea from soursop leaves
How many soursop leaves to make tea?
Are you wondering how many soursop leaves you will need to make tea? 2 or 3 soursop leaves or about 1 tbsp of dried, cut-up leaves should suffice for your soursop tea recipe.
However, if the smell is too strong for your preference or you feel nauseous, you should adjust the amount.
Can I drink soursop leaf tea everyday?
You can drink soursop tea everyday, but it’s best to take a break of at least 10 days after drinking daily for 30 days. Soursop tea can also have side effects and can interact with pressure or diabetes medication, so be sure to consult your doctor first.
Why is soursop illegal in the USA?
Soursop is NOT illegal in the USA and is sold throughout the country. The misconception arose as the FDA issued warnings to several companies as certain products containing soursop pulp pose a “public health concern”, as traces of soursop seeds were found in some of them.
Soursop seeds are toxic and have an adverse effect.
Additionally, several companies market soursop-related products with fraudulent claims that soursop cures cancer. While soursop has been known to have many health benefits, there simply hasn’t been enough research to substantiate such claims.
What time of day should I drink soursop tea?
If you’re wondering what time of day would be best to drink soursop tea, you can start with a cup in the morning and see how you feel throughout the day. However, because soursop tea acts as a sedative, I’d recommend drinking soursop tea at night before bed.
References:
- Wardani, H. (2020). The Potency of Soursop Leaf Extracts for the Treatment of Acne Skin. Jurnal Penelitian Perawat Profesional, 2(4), 563-570. https://doi.org/10.37287/jppp.v2i4.218
- Lannuzel A, Michel PP, Caparros-Lefebvre D, Abaul J, Hocquemiller R, Ruberg M. Toxicity of Annonaceae for dopaminergic neurons: potential role in atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Mov Disord. 2002 Jan;17(1):84-90. doi: 10.1002/mds.1246. PMID: 11835443.
- Lannuzel, A., Höglinger, G. U., Champy, P., Michel, P. P., Hirsch, E. C., & Ruberg, M. (2006). Is atypical parkinsonism in the Caribbean caused by the consumption of Annonacae? Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, 153–157. doi:10.1007/978-3-211-45295-0_24
- Caparros-Lefebvre, D., & Elbaz, A. (1999). Possible relation of atypical parkinsonism in the French West Indies with consumption of tropical plants: a case-control study. The Lancet, 354(9175), 281–286. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(98)10166-6
- 5 Myths about Soursop We Are Led To Believe – And Why We Shouldn’t
- Omere, E. A., Osaigbovo, A. U., & Adekunle, A. T. (2023). Soursop botany, chemical composition and medicinal prospects: A concise review. Ghana Journal of Science, 64(1), 56-67.
- Soursop (Graviola): Health Benefits and Uses
- Soursop Health Benefits
- Soursop Tea: 10 Health Benefits, How to Make & Side Effects – Tua Saúde
- Why Experts Warn Against Soursop for Cancer Treatment
- Graviola for Cancer: What We Know
- Health Benefits of Soursop
- Benefits of Soursop for the Skin – PAPAIŸO
