Soursop Leaves

A 20 g resealable pack of whole dried soursop leaves, also known as graviola (Annona muricata), handpicked and sun dried. The brand lists them as organic with no additives. The leaves are simmered rather than steeped to make a caffeine free herbal tea with a mild, slightly earthy, green taste. If you have been looking for soursop leaves in the UK sold whole rather than cut into bags, this is the format.

The brand suggests honey or lemon if you want the tea sweeter or sharper. A 20 g pack is a sizeable bag of leaves.

What it is

Soursop is a tropical tree whose spiky green fruit is eaten fresh across the Caribbean, South America and Southeast Asia, and whose leaves are dried for tea. The leaves are large, leathery and dark green when fresh; dried, they are olive brown and brittle. Unlike a tea bag, whole leaves need simmering rather than steeping to draw out the flavour, which is why the brand's method uses a pan and 10 to 15 minutes. The result is a light brown, mildly herbal infusion.

The brand's original description refers to traditional uses of the leaves and to health topics. We do not repeat those; this page describes the leaves, how to brew them and what they taste like. Soursop tea is sold as a food and we make no claims for it.

Leaves vary in size, so the brand sells by weight rather than count. At 2 to 3 leaves per cup a 20 g pack will last well beyond a few weeks of regular use. Keep the pack sealed and dry; brittle leaves crumble if the bag is crushed, and crumbs still brew fine in an infuser.

This is a Herba Store UK own-label product.

How to brew it

Bring about 500 ml of water to the boil, add 2 to 3 dried leaves per cup, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and drink warm. Add honey or a slice of lemon to taste. You can also make a larger batch and keep it in the fridge to drink cold over a day or two.

• 2 to 3 dried leaves per cup
• Simmer 10 to 15 minutes in about 500 ml of water
• Strain; sweeten with honey or sharpen with lemon
• 20 g resealable pack, £10.99

Reseal the pack after each use. Dried leaves keep for a long time if kept dry and out of light.

What's inside

• Whole dried soursop (Annona muricata) leaves, 20 g
• Organic, no additives or pesticides, as stated by the brand
• Handpicked and sun dried
• Naturally caffeine free

Annona muricata is a small evergreen tree of the custard apple family, grown throughout the tropics. The fruit is soursop or graviola; the leaves, which are what is in this pack, are dried and brewed. The plant is unrelated to the tea plant, so the infusion contains no caffeine.

Who it's for

People who enjoy herbal teas and want something they prepare properly in a pan rather than dunk in a mug. It suits a slow evening, a weekend pot, and anyone who grew up with soursop tea in a Caribbean or West African household and wants whole leaves rather than tea bags. It also suits people who keep a small cupboard of single-botanical teas.

If you want a quick bagged brew, the hemp tea bags or the Easy Green CBD tea bags are the no-pan options. If you want a floral tea rather than a green one, the blue lotus flowers are the other whole botanical.

Pairs well with

The whole dried blue lotus flowers are the other single-botanical on the herbal shelf. The hemp tea bags are the caffeine free bagged alternative when you do not have time for a pan. For a sweet evening drink instead of a tea, the lion's mane hot chocolate is on the same drinks shelf. See the rest of the herbal supplements shelf and everything under teas and drinks.

Frequently asked questions

What is soursop?

A tropical fruit tree, Annona muricata, also called graviola. The fruit is eaten fresh; the leaves are dried and simmered as a herbal tea. This pack is the leaves.

How do I make soursop leaf tea?

Simmer 2 to 3 dried leaves in about 500 ml of water for 10 to 15 minutes, strain, and sweeten or add lemon to taste.

Does it contain caffeine?

No. Soursop is unrelated to the tea plant and the leaves are caffeine free.

How many leaves are in the pack?

The pack is sold by weight, 20 g, because leaves vary in size. At 2 to 3 a cup that is many cups.

If you are comparing herbal teas on our shelf, the label guide explains how to read origin and additive statements on a pack. Herbastore ships this product from the UK, with free UK shipping on orders over £40. Orders are packed by Herbastore UK, so if you are buying from more than one of our brands everything arrives together.