What is Soursop? A Complete Guide to Graviola for Wellness

What is Soursop?

Soursop is a tropical fruit which comes from the Annona Muricata tree which is native to parts of the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia. The fruit is a large green and spiky fruit on the outside with a soft, almost custard like white flesh inside. 

Soursop has long been used in teas, juices and wellness practices and has gained a ton of attention in recent years in the supplement world under a name you may have seen: Graviola, we carry a Graviola Supplement from Now Foods which you can find here if you decide to try it.

Is Soursop the Same Thing as Graviola?

Yes, Soursop and Graviola are the same plant, Soursop is the common name for the fruit while Graviola is often used when referring to supplements made from the leaves, stems, or fruit of the plant. If you see capsules labeled as Graviola Capsules or teas they're derived from the same Annona Muricata Tree that produces Soursop.

Is Soursop Legal?

Yes, Soursop and Graviola are legal in the United States, you can find it in some international or specialty grocery stores and in supplements from reputable brands like Now Foods among others. 

What Are Potential Benefits of Soursop?

Soursop has traditionally been used for a wide range of wellness purposes. Modern interest focuses on natural plant compounds including acetogenins, alkaloids and anxiotidiants. 

Immune Support

Soursop contains naturally occuring antioxidants as part of a daily immune support routine.

Immune Support

Graviola may be most widely used to support the immune system and immune health, especially during seasonal changes. What actually inspired this blog post was recently running into an individual from Montana who spoke about Soursop and how popular it is there and how amazing it is for keeping colds and illnesses at bay, especially during cold and flu season.

Digestive Support

Traditionally Soursop Fruit has been used to support digestion and gut comfort. 

Relaxation & Stress Support

Certain parts of the Soursop plant have historically been used in calming teas and nighttime wellness practices. 

General Wellness

Soursop is often taken as part of a holisitc approach to overall health outside of even specific purposes or uses. 

What Does Soursop Taste Like?

Soursop has a unique flavor that's hard to compare to any single fruit, many compare it to tasting like a blend of strawberry, pineapple, banana and some type of citrus fruit combined. The texture is soft and creamy, some compare it to custard and it's sweet with a slght tang which is why it's popular in smoothies, juices and even desert. The closest thing many in North America may have tried which it could be compared to is the Paw Paw Fruit which has a similar taste and texture. 

How Do You Eat Soursop?

Fresh Fruit

1. Cut the Soursop in half lengthwise
2. Scoops out the white flesh
3. Remove the black seeds and do not eat them
4. Eat it plain like any other fruit or blend into smoothies or juice it

Soursop Can Also Be Found As:

• Frozen Pulp
• Tea made from dried leaves
• Powdered fruit
• Capsules or Liquid Extracts

The fresh fruit isn't always easy to found, especially outside of regions its native to as it doesn't have a long shelf life and the soft fruits are easily damaged during shipping or transportation which is why many turn to supplements or teas instead.

Soursop Fresh Fruit vs Soursop Supplements

Fresh soursop is great if you have access to it but supplements offer a few advantages including no prep or spoilage, standardized servings, easier daily use and they're available all year round. Most graviola supplements are made from leaves which are commonly used in traditional preparations.

Now Foods Graviola Supplements

If you're looking for a conveneint way to add graviola to your routine Now Foods Graviola is a solid option as Now Foods is a family owned company known for transparent labeling, quality testing and consistent manufacturing standards. Their graviola supplement, which we carry, provides a simple capsule based way to incorporate this traditional botanical without needing fresh fruit or tea prepartation. 

Final Thoughts

Soursop aka Graviola is a tropical fruit with a long history of use and growing interest in the health and wellness community. Whether you're curious about its taste, its benefits or its availability as a supplement, its easy to see why soursop has earned a reputation as a unique and versatile plant. While the Soursop supplements are a great and convenient way to add soursop to your routine if you have the chance I'd encourage you to try the actual fresh fruit as it's a truly unique fruit like nothing you've ever tasted before. 

Author

John has been helping people in the fitness and nutrition industry for over 10 years. He is an avid biker, hiker and fitness enthusiast. Most notably, you can find him on Youtube instructing viewers about the newest products to hit the supplement industry.

John Frigo