Soursop Leaves

Whole dried soursop leaves, dried slowly and checked by hand. Choose a 10g pack (20 or more leaves), a 50g pouch (100 or more) or a 100g pouch (200 or more). From one farm. Caffeine-free. UK delivery, and the leaves ship internationally.

Also known as: graviola, guanabana, guyabano, sirsak, Annona muricata.

Origin: Ghana.

What soursop leaves are

Soursop leaves grow on Annona muricata, the same tree that bears the soursop fruit. They are a broad evergreen leaf, picked and then dried, and brewed as a herbal tea. The leaf is drunk on its own across the Caribbean, Africa, South East Asia and South America, usually with nothing blended into it. It carries no caffeine, so it suits a late cup as readily as a morning one.

We sell the leaf whole. Not cut, not sifted, not milled into a powder. One leaf, dried flat, as it came off the tree.

What a whole dried leaf looks like

A dried soursop leaf is matte rather than glossy, and two-toned: a silvery sage on one face, a deeper olive brown on the other. The veins stand out as fine crazing across the surface, and the leaf curls a little as the moisture leaves it. It is nothing like the hard, shiny bay leaf people tend to picture.

Because the leaves are dried whole, you can count them, hold one up to the light and judge its condition before you brew. That is the point of buying them this way.

What is in the pouch

• 50g and 100g: whole leaves vacuum-sealed inside a resealable outer pouch, so you can reseal between brews. 50g holds 100 or more leaves, 100g holds 200 or more.
• 10g simple pack: a single sealed pack sized for a letterbox, holding 20 or more whole leaves, around seven to ten mugs. A good way to try it first.

Every leaf is dried whole, not crushed, so you can see exactly what you are brewing.

Taste

Brewed, soursop leaves make a caffeine-free cup that is light and slightly floral, somewhere between a light green tea and chamomile. It is not bitter when brewed properly. For more, see our taste guide.

How to brew soursop leaves

1. Rinse. Run two or three whole leaves under cold water.
2. Measure. Two or three leaves for a 250 to 300ml mug. Three or four for a stronger cup. Three to five for a full litre.
3. Pour and cover. Freshly boiled water over the leaves, then put a lid or a saucer over the top so the steam stays in.
4. Steep. Five to ten minutes. Leaving it longer makes the cup stronger rather than bitter.
5. Strain and serve. Plain, or with a slice of lemon or a little honey. The same leaves will take a second brew.

See our beginner's guide to soursop tea, or try one of our five tea recipes, including Caribbean-spiced and iced versions.

Whole leaves or tea bags

A tea bag hides what is inside it. Most soursop tea bags are filled with cut and sifted leaf, which is the broken material left over after grading, and some are blended with other herbs to bulk them out or soften the flavour.

A whole leaf cannot be padded out. You can count what is in the pouch, see the condition of each leaf and decide for yourself how strong to make the cup. Whole leaves also keep longer, because far less of the leaf surface is exposed to air.

The trade-off is convenience. A bag goes straight into a mug; a whole leaf wants a pot or a strainer and a few minutes. Our full comparison is here: soursop tea bags versus whole leaves.

Storage

Sealed and kept away from heat and light, the leaves keep for twelve months or more. Store the pouch in a cool, dry cupboard, not the fridge and not in direct sun. See our storage guide for common mistakes to avoid.

Sourcing

Our leaves come from one farm, the same farm harvest after harvest. Our founder visited the drying racks before launching Soursoply, and we work directly with the people who pick and dry the leaves. Nothing is added and nothing is blended in. Every pouch goes through these four stages.

For the longer story, see our story.

Buying in bulk? See our wholesale tiers for soursop leaves, from 250 pouches for retailers, distributors and importers.

What we do not claim

We make no health or medical claims about soursop leaves, and we will not repeat the ones you will find elsewhere on the internet. We sell a leaf for brewing. We will tell you how it tastes, how to brew it, how to keep it and where it came from, and we will stop there.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a health condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist before adding any new herbal tea to your routine.

FAQs

What are soursop leaves? Leaves from Annona muricata, the soursop tree. They are dried and brewed as a caffeine-free herbal tea. We sell them whole rather than cut or crushed.

What is the difference between soursop leaves and graviola leaves? None. They are two names for leaves of the same plant, Annona muricata. Graviola is often used for herbal tea blends, and soursop is the more common name in the Caribbean and the UK.

Are whole leaves better than tea bags? They are more honest. A whole leaf cannot be padded out with cut and sifted material or blended with other herbs, and you can see exactly what is in the pouch before you brew it.

Which size should I choose? The 10g pack is the starter size, around seven to ten mugs, with free UK delivery. The 50g and 100g pouches reseal between brews.

How many leaves do I use per cup? Two or three whole leaves for a 250 to 300ml mug, three or four for a stronger cup, or three to five for a full litre.

What does soursop tea taste like? Light and slightly floral, somewhere between green tea and chamomile.

Are the leaves caffeine-free? Yes. Soursop leaves contain no caffeine.

How long do dried soursop leaves last? Twelve months or more if the pouch stays sealed and out of heat and light. Whole leaves keep longer than cut leaf because less surface is exposed to air.

How often can you drink soursop tea? There is no set amount and we do not recommend one. Most people treat it as an everyday cup. See our full guide.

Where does the soursop come from? One farm, the same farm for both the leaves and the fresh fruit. The country of origin is listed in the product details.

Where can I buy soursop leaves in the UK? Here. For other options, see our where to buy soursop guide.