Fresh Rhubarb Lemonade Concentrate
A crisp, refreshing homemade summer drink made from fresh rhubarb and lemons, balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect as a concentrate to mix with water or sparkling water for a delightful beverage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 6 cups concentrate (makes approximately 24 cups lemonade when diluted) 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh rhubarb stalks, chopped (about 500g / 1.1 lbs)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300g)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 to 6 lemons, 240ml)
- 3 cups water (720ml)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Optional: a handful of fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Rinse and chop about 4 cups (500g) of fresh rhubarb stalks into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. No need to peel.
- In a large saucepan, combine chopped rhubarb, 3 cups (720ml) water, and 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar. Stir gently to combine.
- Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally to dissolve sugar. Simmer for about 15 minutes until rhubarb is very soft and breaking down.
- In the last 5 minutes of simmering, add lemon zest and optional fresh mint leaves to infuse flavor.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly (about 10 minutes). Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl or pitcher, pressing gently to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids.
- Stir in 1 cup (240ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice to the strained liquid.
- Transfer the concentrate to a clean glass jar or bottle and refrigerate. Keeps fresh up to 1 week.
- To serve, dilute concentrate with cold water or sparkling water to taste (usually 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water). Add ice and garnish with lemon slices or mint leaves.
Notes
Use gentle simmering to avoid burning and preserve flavor. Adjust sugar to taste after cooling. Lemon zest and mint are optional but add brightness. Strain well for a smooth concentrate. Concentrate keeps up to 1 week refrigerated. Can freeze in ice cube trays for longer storage. For a low-sugar version, substitute sugar with stevia or monk fruit carefully.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 fl oz (240 ml) dil
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 17
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: rhubarb lemonade, rhubarb concentrate, homemade lemonade, summer drink, refreshing beverage, rhubarb recipe, lemonade concentrate