Things to Know About Soursop Tea and its Alternatives

Mar 04, 2025

While new herbs interest me (and I love to study them) I don’t particularly care for rare ones that are hard to get. I love using herbs that are easily accessible — even better if they grow in my own garden. Licorice root, star anise, turmeric, and chamomile are just a few! Growing herbal medicine in my yard is my favorite type of health insurance.

Speaking of herbal remedies, did you know that soursop tea is thought to have lots of medicinal qualities? Soursop leaf tea can be great for your health, but you can enjoy similar benefits from easier-to-find alternatives too.

While drinking soursop tea is one of the best ways to reap this plant’s benefits, soursop leaf tea can get pretty pricey and is not the easiest to find in stores. We’re sharing everything we know about soursop and introducing you to other herbs with similar qualities. Use this guide to learn how to make soursop tea and products from alternatives like moringa.

The Legal Stuff

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What is Soursop? And How is it Used?

Soursop is a tropical fruit native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. It is rich in antioxidants and contains nutrients such as vitamins B and C, along with minerals such as calcium and iron (Source).

There are several ways that you can enjoy soursop and its health benefits:

Soursop leaf tea: This popular drink can be made by steeping fresh or dried soursop leaves.

Soursop extract: Made from either the leaf or fruit of the plant, soursop extract is a supplement that is usually sold in liquid or capsule form.

Fresh soursop fruit: It has a sweet and citrusy flavor, with hints of different fruits like strawberry and apple.

Soursop powder: The fruit and leaves of this plant can be dried and ground into a powder that can be added to food.

People have used soursop for traditional herbal medicine for quite some time. Y’all know just how much I love to use herbal tea as medicine — be sure to check out my other post on how to grow your own herbalist garden so you can actually grow your own blends at home!

Health Benefits of Soursop Leaf Tea

Soursop tea has had a long history of being used as a healing remedy, and you can still enjoy many of its health benefits to this day.

Some benefits worth highlighting include:

Boosts immune and digestive health: Its high vitamin C content helps boost immunity, and a high fiber content promotes healthy digestion too.
Supports cardiovascular health: By lowering blood pressure and improving circulation, this plant can have a positive impact on heart health (Source).
Potential anti-cancer properties: Preliminary research studies have found that soursop may be able to prevent cancer cells from forming and reduce the size of tumors (Source).

Although it is exciting to see the potential benefits, it’s important to remember that drinking soursop leaves tea, like any herb that we ever share, also has its downsides, and just because it is natural doesn't mean that it is safe for everyone in any amount. If you are using any medications or have any chronic conditions please make sure to check with your trusted health care provider before adding soursop to your regime of herbs.

Potential Side Effects

Despite the many benefits of soursop, there are some potential side effects that you should keep in mind (Source). When consumed in high amounts, it can be associated with neurotoxicity, digestive issues, and low blood pressure symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, or fainting (Source).

Who Should Avoid Soursop Tea

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid consuming soursop. Here is our roundup list of the best tea for pregnancy that can be enjoyed safely instead. It is also recommended that you avoid this tea if you are taking blood pressure medication or diabetes medication or if you are having any imaging tests done (such as a PET scan).

A Few Soursop Alternatives

Here are some alternative herbs that have many of the same benefits as soursop. We recommend these alternatives because they are more affordable and easier to find.

Antioxidant-Rich Herbs

Green Tea: The high level of antioxidants in green tea helps combat free radicals.
Rooibos Tea: This is a great caffeine-free alternative to soursop leaf tea. In addition to being rich in antioxidants, it supports immune health and reduces inflammation.

Immune-Boosting Herbs

Elderberry: Known for its ability to fight off colds, elderberry is commonly found in the form of tea, syrup, or lozenges.
Echinacea: This is widely available and is often a popular choice for boosting immunity, fighting respiratory infections, and reducing inflammation.

Anti-Cancer and Anti-inflammatory Herbs

Turmeric: A common herb known for being rich in antioxidants and having powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Pairing it with black pepper will help with absorption.
Ginger: Easy to find fresh or dried; this helps fight inflammation, boost immunity, and promote healthy digestion.

Digestive Health and Pain Relief

Peppermint: Its soothing qualities support digestion and help to ease headaches and muscle pain.
Chamomile: Most commonly consumed in tea form, chamomile is a relaxing herb that aids digestion and reduces inflammation.

Sleep and Stress Relief

Lemon Balm: This calming herb is easy to find in tea or dried form and helps to reduce stress and promote sleep.
Lavender: Often blended in teas, lavender has soothing qualities that help to reduce stress levels and contribute to better sleep.

Heart and Blood Sugar Support

Hibiscus: Hibiscus tea is easy to find in stores and helps to lower blood pressure and support heart health.
Cinnamon: A kitchen staple, this is rich in antioxidants and helps regulate blood sugar.
Turmeric + Ginger: This anti-inflammatory combination helps boost immune health.
Green Tea + Lemon Balm: Together, these antioxidant-rich supplements have a calming effect.
Hibiscus + Peppermint: This duo supports digestive and heart health.

The Best Alternative to Soursop: Moringa

If you’re looking for the closest match to soursop in terms of medicinal value, you’ve got to try moringa!

Rich in antioxidants: Moringa’s rich antioxidant qualities help fight free radicals and support health in general (Source).
Anti-inflammatory properties: Similar to soursop, moringa has strong anti-inflammatory properties that fight against cardiovascular issues (Source).
Immune support: Loaded with vitamins (including A, B, and C), it boosts immunity and overall health (Source).
Blood sugar regulation: Soursop and moringa both have properties that contribute to lowering blood sugar levels, benefiting individuals who are managing diabetes (Source).
Potential cancer-fighting properties: The bioactive compounds suggest that this herb may have potential anti-cancer properties, but similar to soursop, further research is needed (Source).
Supports digestion: Has also traditionally been used to ease an upset stomach and other gastrointestinal issues (Source).

How to Use Moringa

Tea: Brewing dried moringa leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes will leave you with a refreshing and healthy drink to sip on.
Powder: You can add moringa powder to smoothies, soups, and teas.

BUY MORNIGA TEA AND HERB HERE

How to Make Soursop Tea

Making soursop leaves tea is easy! You can use fresh or dried leaves for this simple recipe.

Prepare 10-15 tea leaves (rinse if using fresh leaves).
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and add the leaves to the pot.
Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the water turns golden brown.
Strain and serve. You can add honey or lemon if you’d like.

Soursop Tea Frequently Asked Questions

What does soursop do for your body?

Soursop contains nutrients that help boost immunity and support digestive health. It is also high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Is soursop legal in the US?

Yes, soursop products are legal in the US. They can be found in stores as well as online.

What diseases does soursop treat?

Soursop has not yet been approved by the FDA as a treatment for any medical condition because more research is needed. However, preliminary studies suggest that soursop may have potential cancer-fighting properties.

Who should not take soursop?

It is best to avoid soursop if you have low blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, a family history of neurological disorders, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Always consult a medical professional before adding supplements to your diet.

Is it OK to drink soursop tea everyday?

Despite the benefits of soursop leaves tea, there are potential risks with daily use depending on your individual health and how much you consume. It may be helpful to drink it in moderation and monitor for any possible side effects.

Is soursop a laxative?

Yes, this plant has mild laxative effects. It is not considered a strong laxative, but its high fiber content, when eaten whole, can help combat constipation.

Is soursop easy to find?

Finding soursop easily will depend on your location. If you can’t find it at any of your local stores, take a look online.

What are some good substitutes for soursop? What are other herbs with similar properties?

Ginger, turmeric, and echinacea are all great substitutes for soursop. Moringa is most similar as it is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Is soursop good for weight loss?

Soursop is low in calories and high in fiber. It can aid in weight loss goals when combined with a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Quick Recap on Soursop Leaves Tea

Soursop leaf tea has so many positive health benefits, but there are also plenty of alternative herbs that you can use to enjoy the same benefits. Whether you choose to brew soursop, moringa, or another favorite herbal tea, we hope that your next cup will be a blessing of happiness and health.

Interested in learning more about different herbs and their medicinal benefits? Be sure to grab our free Herbal Monograph Journal Pages so you can keep track of all the details! Or grab already created herbal monographs on over 80 herbs inside our Herbal Studio.

Learn more about other herbs and their uses

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