While home grown orange juice is out of the question for us self-reliant homesteaders in most of North America, home grown rhubarb juice isn’t. In our book, The Self-Sufficient Backyard: For the Independent Homesteader, we write about rhubarb and rhubarb juice and the role it plays in our plan for self-reliance. Chilled rhubarb juice mixed in equal parts with ginger ale (homemade or store bought), makes a punch that is a perfect thirst quencher when you come in from sweating in the garden. Let’s talk home grown rhubarb juice for more self-reliance.
Making Rhubarb Juice
Before you can make juice you first need rhubarb. See post “Rhubarb for the Self-Reliant Homestead” for info on growing your own. Or you can buy stalks from a farmer’s market, the supermarket, get surplus from a gardening neighbor who is desperate to get rid of some or perhaps pick some from long neglected plants on an old abandoned farmstead (with owner’s permission of course). That’s how we acquired our first stalks decades ago back when neither of us was familiar with rhubarb. We had never had rhubarb before and wanted to be sure we liked it before we tried growing it.
1. Once you have your stalks, trim the leaves off if they’re still attached and throw the leaves on to the compost pile. Rhubarb leaves are toxic and should never be eaten.
2. Wash the stalks and cut them up into about ½” chunks. Throw them in a kettle and add water to cover.
3. Simmer till soft, about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Strain through a damp bag. Because I do a large quantity, a standard jelly bag isn’t going to cut it, so I use a large bag I made out of utility muslin. You could also use a pillow case but be aware the juice will stain the fabric.
5. After tying up the opening of the bag, I hang it from a hook Ron put in the kitchen ceiling and let the juice drip into a large bowl. When the bag and its contents have cooled enough to handle, Ron squeezes the bag by hand for a greater yield.
6. Next I measure the juice and return it to the kettle, adding ¼ cup sugar for each 4 cups of juice.
7. I then reheat the juice and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Rhubarb is canned in a boiling water bath but the jars need to be scalded first to sterilize them as the processing time is only 10 minutes.
8. I always use quart jars for this product. So I scald my quart jars, then fill them with simmering juice leaving ½” of headroom and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Using Rhubarb Juice
To make a delicious “mixed” drink, which we’ve dubbed Rhubarb Cooler, chill the rhubarb juice and ginger ale. If desired, to each quart jar of rhubarb juice add 1 teaspoon of orange extract and 1 teaspoon lemon extract. Then mix equal parts of ginger ale and rhubarb juice for a real homegrown thirst quencher on a hot summer day. The rhubarb cooler is especially good if it’s mixed with homemade ginger ale but store bought ginger ale works well too. Enjoy!
Until next time, keep the dream alive! We wish you a great day!
Ron and Johanna
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I have made a similar juice with added fruit juices and canned it……we love it!
Plus rhubarb cake, crisps and of course pies……
Hi Liz. There’s so much satisfaction in canning up various juices and vegetables for use later in the year. And as you note, rhubarb is such a versatile plant. And so easy to grow. I’m sure you are just like us… we know spring is coming when the first rhubarb buds break through the soil. Stay well.
Tried to buy your book and pay with PayPal (it was shown as a payment option) but when I went to complete the order “Clickbank” appeared to be the only payment option. Please advise. Thank you!
Hello. I’m sorry for the tardy response. For some reason, I no longer receive notifications from my website. I only see a comment if I happen to log in.
Thank you very much for your interest in our book. I know there is an issue with Click Bank and Paypal. Paypal changed their terms and created a mess with Clickbank. I don’t think Paypal is an option with clickbank anymore. That applies to any company that was dealing with click bank.
Our publisher had to set up another option for those wishing to use Paypal. Could you please try this website and let me know how you make out? https://selfsufficient-backyard.com/my-book/ One way or another, we will get you a book. Please let me know how you make out. Thanks and be safe!
Hi Ron & Johanna, Hope you both are well. I am interested in purchasing your book but saw you don’t ship to Canada, which was odd as I know you are in Canada, just near us in PEI. 😉 I would rather have the real book rather than the e-book. Also, are the prices in CAD or USD? Thanks kindly, Heather
Hello Heather. We thank you for your interest in our book. Our book can be shipped most places throughout the world. Here is the link: https://self-sufficient-backyard.com/book-international/
The shipping, duty and exchange rate are unfortunately ridiculous. There is a contact form at the end of the “About Us” page. Why not contact me through that contact form with your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you Heather. Stay well.