Soursop Leaves Often Discarded in Indonesia, But Sought After by Germany and Malaysia

Soursop leaves often end up as garden waste. They are pruned, piled, and burned along with branches. Their economic value is almost never accounted for. Yet in the global herbal market, processed soursop products are now available on international e-commerce platforms, sold as tea, capsules, and extract powder.

The soursop fruit has long been known for its sweet-sour taste. Rich in vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants, this tropical fruit is popular in beverage markets and as a herbal ingredient. Malaysia has been Indonesia’s most consistent buyer of soursop commodities in recent years.

In 2024, Indonesian soursop exports to Malaysia reached US$24,089, or approximately Rp 426.4 million.

However, foreign markets are now turning their attention to another part of the soursop tree: the leaves. In the global herbal market, dried soursop leaves are marketed as ingredients for herbal tea and health supplements. These products are typically sold in 40-60 sachet packs and marketed on platforms like Amazon for around US$10 to $20 per box.

Soursop leaves come from the Annona muricata plant, a tropical species prevalent across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In traditional medicine, the leaves have long been used as herbal decoctions. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and acetogenins in soursop leaves are associated with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

According to a comprehensive review on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects focusing on antidiabetic properties, the popularity of soursop leaves is growing among herbal manufacturers and natural supplement consumers. Various health claims have emerged, from aiding sleep to potential anticancer activity in laboratory tests.

However, clinical evidence in humans remains limited. Much of the research is still at the laboratory and animal testing stage. Consequently, many therapeutic claims are not yet considered medical standards. Researchers also note the presence of acetogenins such as annonacin, which some studies link to potential neurotoxicity when consumed excessively over the long term.

The global market continues to grow. Soursop leaf tea now falls into the niche herbal category, with loyal buyers in Europe and East Asia.

Germany has emerged as a target for Indonesian exporters due to rising demand for natural herbal products. Indonesian MSMEs are now drying the leaves, sorting them, and packaging them as tea bags or extract powder.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows Indonesian soursop leaf exports under HS code 08109094 have fluctuated over the past six years.

In 2021, several businesses and local governments began exporting dried soursop leaves to markets such as Germany and South Korea. While still small compared to major horticultural commodities, the pattern remains unstable due to reliance on niche orders and MSME production capacity.

The biggest issue lies in quality standards. Foreign importers require consistent raw material quality, pesticide residue testing, phytosanitary certificates, and clear labelling. Many domestic producers still sell raw dried leaves without industrial processing standards. This makes it difficult to raise prices and maintain consistent export supply.

Processed products, however, offer significantly higher margins than raw leaves. In international markets, the highest value comes from products dried to hygienic standards, modernly packaged, and positioned as premium herbal tea.

In other words, the main profit lies in downstream processing, not in selling fresh leaves.