Soursop Juice & Smoothie

If you've never tried a soursop, you're in for a unique flavor experience. The soursop fruit, also known as the guanabana, is common in the tropical climates of Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. It's member of the Annonaceae family, which also includes the paw paw, a tropical tasting fruit that can be found in North America.

Also referred to as the thorny custard apple, thorny mango, and thorny fruit due to its prickly exterior, soursop is used in the same way as many other fruits: to flavor ice cream, sorbets, candy, and so much more. Fruit bars made from the soursop are very popular in Venezuela. Here, the fruit is blended with fresh coconut, pineapple, kale, and ginger to make a refreshing tropical smoothie.

Start With a Basic Smoothie and Then Customize

What Does Soursop Taste Like?

Soursop tastes like a combination of pineapple and cherry, with a creamy flavor similar to coconut or banana. Its pulp is white with inedible black seeds that should not be consumed due to their possible toxicity.

Where Can I Find Soursop?

You can buy this fruit fresh if you have access to imported fruits at grocers and markets near your house, or you can buy the pulp in cans or in plastic packages. Similarly, you can find fresh coconut at many grocery stores and crack it open on your own, or buy frozen cubed coconut.

How to Prepare Soursop

If you're lucky enough to find fresh soursop, here's a step-by-step guide on how to get the fruit out:

1. Wash the soursops under running water. Make sure to scrub well, as dirt often gets caught on the bumps of the skin.
2. Once washed, peel the soursops. You can use a paring knife to do this. Since the skin is very soft, you might even be able to use your hands.
3. After peeling the fruit, cut it in half to remove the stem.
4. To remove the seeds, place the pulp in a large bowl and break it up by hand. Discard the seeds.

Our Tip for the Creamiest Smoothie

It is highly recommended to use a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix, when making this smoothie. It will be powerful enough to ensure that the ginger root is well blended.

Soursop's Health Benefits

Like many other fruits, soursop is a good source of vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. It's long been used by traditional healers for medicinal purposes, but there has yet to be strong scientific studies backing up the fruit's potential healing properties.