If you have started drinking soursop tea and you are wondering how often to have it, you are asking a normal question. Here is an honest answer: there is no set amount, and we are not in a position to recommend one. What we can do is describe what drinkers actually tell us.
Soursop tea is a herbal tea made from the dried leaves of the soursop tree (also called graviola, guanabana, guyabano, Annona muricata). Caffeine-free, gentle in flavour, traditionally drunk in Caribbean and West African households for generations.
The short answer
There is no set amount, and we do not recommend one. Soursop tea is a herbal drink, not a supplement with a serving size, and it is not our place to tell anyone how much of anything to drink.
What we can tell you is what people describe. Some have a cup in the evening as part of a wind-down. Some have one in the morning and one at night. Some drink it a few times a week rather than daily. All of these come up regularly. None of them is a recommendation.
If you are new to it, the flavour is gentle enough that you will know within a week or two whether it suits you as a regular drink.
There is no caffeine limiting how often
Soursop leaves are caffeine-free. That matters because caffeine is the main reason most teas have a sensible daily ceiling, five or six cups of black tea is the usual cap, three or four of green tea, because the caffeine adds up.
Soursop tea has none of that. Caffeine will not be the thing keeping you up, which is one reason it is traditionally an evening drink.
How traditional households drink it
In Caribbean homes, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, soursop leaf tea is most often drunk once a day as an evening cup, either after the meal or as a wind-down. Some households brew it in the morning instead.
In Ghanaian and other West African homes, similar pattern. One cup in the evening is the most common rhythm. Daily drinkers are common; occasional drinkers are also common.
No tradition we are aware of pours it throughout the day the way English breakfast tea is drunk. It is more of a single, slow cup than a constant pour.
When people typically have it
Most regular drinkers we hear from in the UK have it:
- In the evening, as a wind-down after dinner. The most common single time.
- In the morning, before breakfast or with breakfast, as a gentler alternative to caffeinated tea or coffee.
- Mid-afternoon, particularly in winter, as a warming cup.
When you drink it matters less than that you find a rhythm that suits you.
What tends to shape the rhythm people settle into
A few practical factors:
- Personal taste. If you genuinely enjoy a cup, daily makes sense. If you only fancy one now and then, occasional makes sense. It is like any other tea, there is no rule.
- Time of year. Many drinkers have it more often in winter and less in summer, or vice versa.
- What else you drink. If you already drink several cups of coffee, black tea, or green tea, you might find soursop tea sits alongside as a caffeine-free option in the evening.
A few things worth noting
If you have a known food allergy or sensitivity, soursop is part of the Annonaceae family. Allergic reactions are rare but possible. Try a small first cup rather than several at once.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescription medication, the sensible move is to check with a qualified healthcare professional before adding any new food or herbal drink to your routine. We say this on our health disclaimer page and we will say it again here: it is not our area, please ask someone qualified.
Stop or reduce if you do not feel right. This is true of any food or drink. Listen to how you feel and adjust.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink soursop tea every day?
Many people do. Others have it a few times a week. There is no caffeine limit and no single right answer, and we do not recommend a number.
Can I drink soursop tea in the evening?
Yes. It is caffeine-free and is traditionally an evening drink in Caribbean and West African households.
How many cups is too many?
We cannot give you a number and would not try. There is no fixed upper limit driven by the leaves themselves. Most regular drinkers describe a modest habit rather than a constant pour, but that is a habit, not a rule.
Should I take a break from drinking it?
Some people prefer a few days a week rather than every day; others drink it daily for years. Personal preference. Go by how you feel.
Can I drink it on an empty stomach?
Yes. It is gentle. Some people prefer it after food simply because that is when they have the time.
Where can I buy soursop leaves in the UK?
Soursoply ships whole dried soursop leaves across the UK and worldwide with tracked delivery. The leaves are single-origin, slow-dried, hand-inspected.