soursop tea | graviola tea

Soursop tea

Soursop Tea health benefits

Soursop tea is made from the leaves of the Graviola tree. Both the leaves and the fruit may provide a staggering number of health benefits according to natural medicine practioners.
They include:

  • Prevents the spread and initial development of cancer
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Boosts the immune system boost
  • Skin protection
  • Accelerates weight loss
  • Improves digestion
  • Treatment and reduction of internal and external inflammation.
  • Sleep aid to help with insomnia

Does soursop tea has any side effects?

Generally, drinking soursop tea moderately, should not produce any adverse effects.

For as many benefits as there are for drinking soursop tea, this seemingly amazing health-giving drink can cause adverse effects if over-consumed. Some soursop tea drinkers have reported:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Digestive discomfort
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
  • Early labor (childbirth)
  • Fatigue (though this is why it helps with insomnia)
  • And some neurotoxic impacts.

Most of these side effects are a result of allergies or excessive or over-consumption of the tea. It is always wise to speak to your doctor of naturopath about potential risks or adverse reactions you may encounter with soursop tea.

What Is Soursop Tea?

In botany, the study of plants, soursop is known as Annona muricata. The tree is native to tropical regions of the Americas. The fruit, known to Spanish speakers as guanabana, can weigh more than five pounds.

While you can make chilled beverages from the pulp of the fruit, for tea, only the leaves are needed. This fruit has received a great deal of attention in recent years due to its apparent effects on cancerous activity in the body, but research is still ongoing for safety and efficacy of this tea. These effects of soursop are attributed to the presence of alkaloids, acetogenins, other antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, gentisic acid, and anonol.

Benefits Of Soursop Tea
Drinking soursop tea is a good idea for those suffering from hypertension, low immunity, inflammation of the skin, acne, obesity, low metabolic rate, indigestion, constipation, and anemia, as well as those who have been diagnosed with cancer and others at a high risk of developing cancer.

Cancer
In the past decade, some remarkable research and claims about soursop tea’s ability to cure and prevent cancer have been made. This is largely due to the presence of acetogenins, a powerful group of antibiotics that have been found in this fruit. So far, the studies have shown positive results in connection to throat, lung, breast and cervical cancers, as well as leukemia. These effects range from shutting down the energy production capacity of cancer cells to causing apoptosis in these mutated cells.

Heart Health

High potassium levels and active compounds in soursop tea help to lower blood pressure by a significant amount. For people with hypertension, this is an excellent way to lower strain on the heart and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

Digestion

The good balance of vitamins and minerals, as well as anti-inflammatory compounds, can help aid the digestive system and prevent conditions of constipation, indigestion, cramping, bloating and diarrhea. The presence of calcium also helps the body uptake iron more effectively, while the antimicrobial effects of this tea will help balance the microflora environment of the gut. However, in excess, this tea can cause additional stomach upset and digestive problems.

Circulation

The high level of iron found in soursop tea helps to stimulate the circulatory system and boost energy throughout the body. Iron is a key component of red blood cells, which bring energy to organ systems and tissues, speeding up repair and optimizing metabolic activity.

soursop ice tea recipe

Soursop Ice Tea

soursop ice tea recipe

Soursop Ice Tea Recipe

  1. Boil about 5-7 graviola (soursop) leaves in 1-2 quarts water for about 10-20 minutes (order them here)
  2. Add 1 regular orange pekoe tea bag
  3. Add 3 green tea bags
  4. Add 3 flavored tea bags – like raspberry tea – and let steep.
  5. After cooling add enough water to make 1 gallon.
  6. Add 1/2 teaspoon of pure stevia extract or agave syrup for sweetness and to taste. A good spoonful or two of honey for sweetness can also be used.
  7. Then add 1/4th teaspoon of powder vitamin C.

Keep the iced tea in the fridge and add ice to your glass. Garnish with a citrus wedge.

See more soursop recipes here.

Best soursop recipes

top 10 soursop recipes

Soursop recipes to make at home

Soursop is not only an amazing healthy fruit, but is also very versatile as an ingredient in food. Here are our top 10 favorite soursop recipes you can make at home:

  1. Soursop Ice Cream – The creamy, sweet texture of soursop is ideal as the focus on icec cream, so check out this amazing soursop ice cream  recipe from the Washington Post.
  2. Soursop Punch – This our quick recipe for and easy soursop punch.
  3. Soursop Margarita – This is one of our favorite drinks that is made with soursop. You can drink it with your eyes as well. Soursop Margarita Recipe
  4. Soursop Ice Tea – This is an amazingly refreshing drink. See the easy recipe here.
  5. Soursop Smoothie – This soursop smoothie recipe is made with soursop pulp and condensed milk. Yum! See soursop smoothie steps.
  6. Soursop Cheesecake – When it comes to soursop the answer is always yes. When you add it to cheesecake…it’s YES!!! See the recipe here from Trinidad.
  7.  Guanabana Cream Pie – This is delicious and creamy, and maybe not supe rhealthy, but it does contain soursop! Soursop pie recipe
soursop tea | graviola tea

Soursop tea questions and answers

What is soursop tea?

Soursop tea is herbal, caffeine-free tea made from the dried leaves of the graviola tree. Learn how to make soursop tea below.
Soursop tea

Is soursop tea the same as graviola tea and guanabana tea?

Soursop, graviola and guanabana are three words that mean the same thing. (See our soursop synonyms article.) The scientific name for the plant is Annona muricata. So soursop tea, graviola tea and guanabana tea is the same thing. It is dried leaves from the Annona muricata steeped in hot water for consumption for health and enjoyment.
soursop guanabana graviola

Where can I buy whole graviola leaves to make soursop tea?

You can buy whole graviola leaves to make tea online. We will soon offer packages of wild-grown, hand-picked, sun-dried soursop leaves harvested from the Caribbean. For now, you can get them here:Amazon.com.

How much soursop tea should I drink on a daily basis for healing purposes?

There is no textbook answer to the questions of how much? or how often?. Because this is a frequently asked question, here's a longer answer. Soursop consumption is not a medically recognized treatment for an medical condition. Doctors do not learn about it in medical school. The FDA does not regulate it as a pharmaceutical in the US. So there is no AMA sanctioned dosage or frequency. That said, this information is provided to help you make your own decision about how much to drink. Here's a recommendation: Start with one cup per day. If it feels good, has no adverse reaction stick with it. If you eant to increase your consumption for additional healing benefits, add a second cup later in the day. Try this for seven days, and see how you feel. If you want to be more aggressive to address a health condition, start with three cups a day at breakfast lunch and dinner. Monitor how you feel and cut back if you suffer any weird or unwanted side effects or have any concerns. When it comes to treating any condition with herbal remedies, you might want to consult a naturopathic doctor.
natural medicine

Can soursop tea be used to fight cancer?

There is anecdotal evidence that soursop can be used to fight cancer. Some claim they have cured their cancer by eating the fruit and drinking soursop tea. Medical science is less certain that it is verifiably curative. However scientists have discovered are phytochemicals found in soursop that have been shown to destroy cancerous cells, even cells that have been resistant to other anticancer therapies. Drinking several strong cups of the tea each may be a good supplementary cancer fighting technique. As always, consult your doctor of oncologist before adjusting your medical treatment.
Cancer patient

How do I make soursop tea with whole graviola leaves?

To brew soursop tea with whole dried soursop leaves, start with two to three graviola leaves to produce one to two cups of tea. Place the leaves in a cup or small teapot. Boil two cups (500 ml) of fresh water. (Use filtered water for better taste.) Add water to leaves and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove the leaves before drinking. This brew time allows you to extract flavor from the leaves for a delicious and fortifing cup of soursop tea.
graviola leaves als known as soursop leaves

How do I brew graviola tea to treat an illness for more of an impact on m health?

If you are drinking the tea to address a health issue and want maximum impact from the healing power of the graviola leaves, then here are some brewing guidelines:
  • TECHNIQUE #1 - Add one to three leaves, depending on their size to for 1 to 2 cups (250 to 500 ml) of filtered water in a stove top pan. You can crush the leaves and place in a tea infuser if you prefer. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • TECHNIQUE #2 - Add whole graviola leaves to a stove top pot with one quart (1 L) of cold water. Bring the water to a boil and and let boil uncovered until the water has been reduced by half.
Brewing notes:
  • Extra steeping time extracts more of the benefits of the graviola leaf.
  • Drink the tea at room temperature or you can reheat it.
soursop tea infuser
soursop punch

Soursop Punch Recipe

soursop punch recipeThe best soursop punch recipe: This delicious chilled soursop punch is a crowd pleaser that will wow anyone that likes tropical punch drinks, especially fans of pina coladas.

Ingredients for soursop punch

  • 1 soursop fruit, peeled and cut into chunks (or use this vacuumed sealed soursop in a jar)
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar (or to taste)
    • Optional: substitute sugar for 1.5 tbsp agave nectar
  • 1 1/2 cups full fat milk (preferred) but you can use 2% or 1% milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

How to make this soursop punch recipe

  1. Chop soursop into small pieces.
  2. Press soursop pieces through a fine-mesh strainer with the back of a spoon and into a bowl to remove the juice from the fruit.
  3. Whisk the milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg into the soursop juice. Make sure the sugar is fully dissolved.
  4. Pour the punch into a pitcher.
  5. Refrigerate until punch chilled for at least 30 minutes.

Soursop punch adult twist: For an adult version add 1.5 oz of rum or vodka to a serving with crushed ice.

NEXT: Try this soursop smoothie recipe