Soursop (Annona muricata) in a few words

Soursop, or Annona muricata, is a fruit tree from tropical America, also grown in Africa and Southeast Asia. Its fruit is eaten; its dried leaves are drunk as an infusion or a decoction in the traditions of these regions. In this article: what we know about soursop leaf and the stomach, how to prepare the tea, how much to drink and the precautions to know.

Soursop leaf and the stomach: what we actually know

Soursop leaf has long been drunk as an infusion in the Caribbean, Latin America and Southeast Asia, after heavy meals or when the stomach feels bloated. This is a traditional use: it describes how the plant is consumed, not that it has a proven effect.

On the research side, extracts of Annona muricata leaves have shown a protective effect on the stomach lining in laboratory and rat studies. These studies use concentrated extracts, at doses unrelated to a cup of tea, and no effect on the stomach has been established in humans to date. Soursop leaf tea therefore remains a drink for digestive comfort, not a treatment: stomach pain that lasts, repeated heartburn or unexplained weight loss call for a doctor's advice.

How to take soursop leaf for the stomach

• Dried leaves as an infusion: 1 teaspoon (about 2 g, or 2 to 3 leaves) for a 250 ml cup of simmering water, 10 minutes covered.
• Tea bags: 1 bag per cup, 5 to 10 minutes.
• When: after a meal, preferably at lunch or in the evening; start with 1 cup a day to check how well you tolerate it.
• How much: 1 to 3 cups a day at most.
• How long: as a 3 to 4 week course, followed by a break of at least one week (see how long a soursop course lasts).

For detailed dosage by format (leaves, tea bags, capsules), see our guide soursop leaves: benefits and dosage.

Precautions before drinking soursop tea

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: soursop leaf is not recommended, for lack of safety data.
• Low blood pressure or blood pressure medication: the plant may lower blood pressure; ask your doctor (see soursop leaf and blood pressure).
• Diabetes under treatment: be careful if you take medication that lowers blood sugar.
• Prolonged use: the leaves contain acetogenins, including annonacin; as a precaution, avoid high doses and continuous use over several months without a break.
• Children: ask a healthcare professional.

What soursop leaf contains

Annona muricata leaves contain flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids and acetogenins. These compounds are studied in the laboratory, notably for their antioxidant activity. This research is done on concentrated extracts: it does not allow any health effect to be attributed to a cup of tea. Acetogenins are also the reason for the precautions above on dose and duration.

Infusion or decoction: preparing soursop tea

With tea bags

This is the simplest form: 1 tea bag in a cup of simmering water, 5 to 10 minutes. Our pack of 3 bags of 60 tea bags (180 tea bags) lets you follow a course of several weeks.

With dried leaves

Use 1 teaspoon of leaves (about 2 g) for a 250 ml cup of simmering water, 10 minutes covered, then strain. A lemon zest, a cinnamon stick or a few mint leaves soften the taste.

As a decoction, with whole leaves

Gently boil the whole leaves in water for 10 to 15 minutes, let stand off the heat for 10 minutes, then strain. Keep the same amount of leaves per cup as for the infusion (about 2 g) and the same limits: 1 to 3 cups a day at most. Our whole soursop leaves (120 g) are meant for this preparation.

Traditional use: the after-meal cup

Where soursop grows, the leaf tea is mostly drunk hot, after a meal or in the evening, much as mint or chamomile tea is elsewhere. Many people enjoy it for its taste and for that moment of rest. This is a custom, not proof: no human study currently shows an effect of soursop tea on digestion, sleep or the body's defences.

The forms of soursop available

• Soursop leaf tea – 60 tea bags: 2.5 g of leaves per tea bag, the most practical form.
• 3 bags of 60 tea bags (180 tea bags): the same product as a pack.
• Whole leaves, 120 g and pack of 3 bags of 120 g: for infusion or decoction.
• Soursop capsules, box of 130 capsules of 500 mg: for those who do not like the taste of the tea; follow the dose given on the product page.
• Pure soursop liquid extract, 500 ml and pack of 6 bottles of 500 ml: a concentrated form, to be dosed according to the product page.

Customer testimonials

What our customers say about our soursop tea. These are personal opinions: they do not replace a doctor's advice.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about soursop tea

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