Super Soursop

With a green, prickly outside and a white, tangy flesh inside, soursop is a fruit that has been cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for thousands of years. Although soursop (also known as graviola or guanabana) is native to Central America and Mexico, we’re fortunate enough to grow this nutritious fruit right here on Hawai’i Island.

Soursop grows on an evergreen tree that can reach up to 30 feet tall and the fruit itself may weigh as much as 7 pounds. Although its black seeds are not digestible, the flesh of the soursop is creamy, pulpy, edible, and nourishing. 

What Makes Soursop So Super?

While the fruit may appear wild and uninviting as it hangs from the soursop tree’s branches, one serving contains 3.3 grams of dietary fiber, 2 grams of protein, 5 percent of the recommended daily intake of magnesium, 8 percent of the daily intake of potassium, and 20.6 mg of vitamin C. Soursop is also a good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, healthy carbohydrates, copper, iron, and phosphorus, making it remarkably nutrient dense. 

In addition to having a flesh packed with vitamins and minerals that our bodies need, soursop’s leaves and stems have been used for centuries in teas to minimize inflammation of the throat and nose. At Bee Boys, we offer a Soursop Extract that can be sprayed into the throat to boost the immune system or soothe irritation.   

Soursop can even be used on the skin to naturally treat eczema. To address eczema flare ups, the leaves are often crushed up and applied to the area affected twice a day. To prevent blackheads and other common skin problems, try applying our Soursop Tincture to breakout prone areas. 

While we make no medical claims at Bee Boys, we do know that soursop is currently being used and studied as a health therapy. And research shows that soursop offers further health benefits as well! 

The Health Benefits of Soursop

According to research, soursop leaf extract possesses bioactive compounds that fortifies the immune system. In addition to vitamin C, soursop is high in ascorbic acid and beta-carotene (the precursor of vitamin A), both of which strengthen the immune system. 

Soursop fruit’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties curb oxidative damage and sustain the gastric wall’s mucus, helping to improve digestive health. Since soursop contains iron, it can be beneficial for individuals fighting iron deficiency. 

Those who are iron deficient are prone to anemia, which has been linked to gastrointestinal system dysfunction. A diet high in iron from soursop and other healthy food, however may combat anemia while enhancing gastrointestinal health. (If you have health concerns, always consult your physician so they can properly diagnose you and discuss an appropriate course of treatment.)

Make Friends with Soursop

If you want to maintain a strong immune system and include more foods loaded with vitamins and minerals in your diet, it’s time to make friends with thorny, tasty soursop. The delicious fruit has a tropical taste, with notes of pineapple and citrus, and hints of creamy coconut!

If you have soursop growing nearby or available at your local grocery store, go ahead and eat the flesh as you would its nearby cousin, the apple. Just be sure to skip the prickly skin (of course!) and spit out the seeds.

When it’s fresh, the soursop’s pulp is soft and sweet. Try throwing it in the blender with a banana, macadamia nut butter, coconut milk, and frozen berries for a refreshing smoothie! 

Bee Boys favorite way to take advantage of the superpowers of soursop is to DRINK IT, which is why we have introduced our immune-boosting Soursop Cider for improved digestion. Created for those who want the health benefits of our Hawaiian Lava Cider with a little less spice, Bee Boys Soursop Cider is especially formulated for improving digestion and giving your immune system a boost, without all the heat.

This sipping cider is completely unique in flavor profile and ingredients. Bee Boys Soursop Cider is a fusion of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and Meyer lemon, blended delectably with our raw honey, bee pollen, propolis, and homegrown soursop. 

This elixir is made with an abundance of the good stuff, including apple cider vinegar and locally-grown soursop. We preserve the fruits’ flavor and nutritional benefits using the vinegar, and the result is a sweet, tangy flavor that will make your taste buds tingle.

“I take a shot of it after I run,” says ultra runner Patrick Stover. “It’s sweet and sour at the same time. And I can actually feel the tingle when I take it!”

Offering a helpful amount of fiber, vitamin C, and other health-boosting nutrients, Soursop Cider really does taste as good as it is for your body!