The short answer
Soursop juice is a creamy, sweet-tangy tropical drink made from the soft white flesh of the soursop fruit, blended with water and often milk, sugar and a little lime. Known as guanabana in Latin America and graviola elsewhere, soursop is a large green spiky fruit loved across the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and Asia, and its flesh has a distinctive flavour, like a blend of pineapple, banana and citrus with a creamy texture. Soursop juice is a refreshing, popular drink, enjoyed cold. This article is general information, not medical advice. In the UK soursop is sold fresh, frozen and as juice or pulp by African and Caribbean food shops.
What to remember
- Soursop juice is a creamy, sweet-tangy drink made from the flesh of the soursop fruit.
- Soursop is a large green spiky tropical fruit, also called guanabana or graviola.
- The juice is made by blending the flesh with water, often with milk, sugar and lime.
- It tastes like a blend of pineapple, banana and citrus, and is enjoyed cold and refreshing.
- Soursop is sold fresh, frozen and as juice or pulp by African and Caribbean food shops in the UK.
For Caribbean, African and Latin American families in Britain, soursop is a beloved, nostalgic taste of home. It is the creamy, tangy juice on a hot day, the spiky green fruit from the market back home, the tropical flavour that says childhood and sunshine, the drink shared with family. Making soursop juice far from home brings back tropical gardens and markets and the fruits of home, the warmth of home in a cool, creamy glass.
There is real fondness in it too, in a fruit so loved across so many warm parts of the world. It reflects a whole culture of tropical fruits and refreshing drinks, and to make soursop juice is to bring a taste of home to the glass. Sharing it with family who grew up on it, or introducing a friend to their first creamy, tangy sip, is a small act of welcome, always as a delicious drink to enjoy. That cool, tropical taste of home is the gift of soursop juice.
What soursop juice actually is
Soursop juice is a drink made from soursop, a large, green, spiky tropical fruit with soft, creamy white flesh and a distinctive sweet-and-tangy flavour. The fruit is known by many names, guanabana in Spanish-speaking countries, graviola in Brazil, and soursop across the Caribbean and English-speaking world, and it is loved in the Caribbean, West Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. Its flesh is soft, fibrous and juicy, tasting like a mix of pineapple, banana, strawberry and citrus, with a creamy, custard-like quality, and it makes a wonderful juice.
To make the juice, the flesh is separated from the skin and seeds and blended with water, and usually milk or condensed milk, a little sugar and a squeeze of lime, into a smooth, creamy, refreshing drink. Soursop juice is popular and beloved, a real tropical treat, enjoyed cold. It is important to note that soursop juice is a food and drink to enjoy, and this article is general information rather than medical advice. Soursop juice is made from the fruit we cover in our guide to soursop, and it sits alongside other tropical and tangy drinks we cover such as tamarind juice and sorrel drink.
How soursop juice is made and enjoyed
Making soursop juice is simple, though it takes a little care with the seeds. A ripe soursop, which yields slightly to a gentle squeeze, is peeled or scooped, and the soft white flesh is separated from the tough skin and the many inedible black seeds, which must be removed as they are not eaten. The flesh is then blended with water until smooth, and passed through a sieve if you want to remove the fibres, before milk or condensed milk, sugar or honey to taste, and a squeeze of lime are stirred in. It is served chilled over ice.
The result is a creamy, sweet, gently tangy drink that is deeply refreshing, especially in warm weather. Some people make it dairy-free with just water or coconut milk, and everyone has their preference for sweetness. Ready-made soursop juice, and frozen or tinned soursop pulp, make it even easier, as the pulp can be blended straight into a drink. Soursop juice is a lovely drink to enjoy, and this article is general information rather than medical or nutritional advice. Creamy, tangy and cooling, soursop juice is a treasured tropical treat.
What to know before you try it
It is worth enjoying soursop juice simply, as the delicious tropical drink it is. Soursop is a much loved fruit with a wonderful flavour, and the juice is a refreshing, popular treat across many cultures. You may come across strong health claims about soursop online, but these should be treated with real caution, as soursop juice is a food and drink rather than a medicine or a treatment for any condition, and it is best enjoyed as part of a balanced, varied diet. The honest position is that it is a tasty fruit drink to enjoy.
A couple of practical points help. The seeds of the soursop are not eaten and should always be removed, and the juice is often sweetened, so those watching sugar may prefer it made with less. As with introducing any new food, and especially for anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, it is sensible to enjoy soursop in normal food amounts and to check with a pharmacist, GP or dietitian if unsure. This article is general information rather than medical advice. Enjoyed as a refreshing drink, soursop juice is a delicious tropical pleasure.
Where to buy soursop in the UK
Getting soursop in Britain is easiest through African and Caribbean food shops, which sell it in several forms. You may find fresh soursop when in season, though it is delicate, and more reliably frozen whole fruit or frozen soursop pulp, which is perfect for juice, as well as tinned pulp and ready-made soursop juice and nectar. These shops know the fruit well, so the staff can help you find it. Frozen pulp is often the easiest way to make soursop juice at home any time of year.
If you want to make or try soursop juice, an African or Caribbean food shop is the natural place to find the fruit, pulp or ready-made juice. You can find African food stores or look up African food stores to find a shop near you, where soursop is a familiar item. Creamy, tangy and refreshing, soursop juice is a much loved way to enjoy a wonderful tropical fruit, as a delicious drink to enjoy.
Frequently asked questions
What is soursop juice?
Soursop juice is a creamy, sweet-tangy tropical drink made from the soft white flesh of the soursop fruit, blended with water and often milk, sugar and a little lime. Soursop, also called guanabana or graviola, is a large green spiky fruit loved across the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and Asia, tasting like a blend of pineapple, banana and citrus. The juice is enjoyed cold as a refreshing drink.
How do you make soursop juice?
A ripe soursop is peeled and the soft white flesh separated from the skin and the inedible black seeds, which must be removed. The flesh is blended with water until smooth, sieved if you want to remove the fibres, then milk or condensed milk, sugar or honey to taste and a squeeze of lime are stirred in, and it is served chilled over ice. Frozen or tinned soursop pulp makes it even easier.
What does soursop juice taste like?
Soursop juice has a distinctive, creamy, sweet-and-tangy flavour, often described as a blend of pineapple, banana, strawberry and citrus, with a smooth, custard-like quality. When made with milk and a little sugar it becomes rich and creamy, and the lime adds a fresh tang. It is a refreshing, tropical drink, especially lovely served cold over ice.
Is soursop juice good for you?
Soursop is a much loved fruit and the juice is a refreshing treat that can be part of a balanced diet, but you should treat strong health claims about soursop with real caution, as it is a food and drink rather than a medicine or a treatment for any condition. The juice is often sweetened, so those watching sugar may prefer less. This is general information, not medical advice; check with a professional if unsure.
Where can I buy soursop in the UK?
Soursop is sold by African and Caribbean food shops, as fresh fruit when in season, and more reliably as frozen whole fruit, frozen or tinned pulp, and ready-made juice or nectar. Frozen pulp is often the easiest way to make juice at home. You can find African food stores near you to find soursop and soursop pulp or juice in your area.