Fizzy Pink Rhubarb Lemonade

Rhubarb is one of the first vegetables available when spring returns. That makes it a fitting choice to flavour this effervescent lemonade. Serve it as a delicious family-friendly refresher on those glorious warm days under the sun — and check out the Chef’s Tips for a cocktail version!

Prep Time
15 minutes
approximately 1 hour chilling time
Cook Time
15 to 20 minutes
Image
Glass of pink rhubarb lemonade on a coaster garnished with lemon and rhubarb, and a plate of lemon wheels

Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar & Redpath® Special Fine Granulated Sugar 2kg

Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar

Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar

Light-coloured and just right for baking, the subtle notes of caramel and moist texture make it ideal for allowing delicate flavours to shine through in your creations.

Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar

Redpath® Special Fine Granulated Sugar 2kg

Redpath® Special Fine Granulated Sugar 2kg

An economically-sized bag of our versatile granulated sugar, it’s ideal for sweetening coffee and tea, baking, preserving, canning, and cooking.

Redpath® Special Fine Granulated Sugar 2kg

Scale OR dry measuring cups

Large heavy-bottomed saucepan or pot

Liquid measuring cup

Vegetable peeler

Slotted spoon

Heatproof spatula

Fine mesh sieve OR a regular strainer lined with cheesecloth

Large heatproof bowl

Pitcher OR glasses

Servings
6 servings
  • 3 cups (402 g) rhubarb, washed, ends trimmed (leaves removed), cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1½ cups (375 g) water
  • ½ cup (100 g) Redpath® Granulated Sugar
  • ¼ cup (54 g) Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar, packed
  • 3 pcs (6 g) lemon zest, wide strips
  • 2 tsp or 3/4 inch (4 g) fresh ginger, peeled, sliced into rounds (optional)
  • 1½ cups (375 ml) lemon juice, preferably freshly squeezed (8 to 10 lemons), chilled
  • 2 cups (500 ml) club soda or sparkling water, chilled
Garnish (optional):
  • Rhubarb “ribbons”
  • Lemon wedges or wheels
Instructions

Step 1

In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, add chopped rhubarb. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 2

Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the Redpath® Granulated Sugar, the Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar, strips of lemon zest, and fresh ginger to the liquid. Simmer and stir until sugars are dissolved, fruit softens, falls apart, and loses its colour; 10 to 15 minutes. With a slotted spoon, skim off any foam that rises to the surface.

Step 3

Remove from heat and allow syrup to infuse and cool slightly; 10 minutes. Carefully strain the pulp mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. With a spatula, gently move the pulp, allowing as much of the liquid to strain through, though being careful not to press too hard onto the pulp as this will create a muddy-looking syrup. Discard lemon peels and ginger slices, but reserve rhubarb pulp (see Chef’s Tips for uses).

Step 4

Allow simple syrup to cool to room temperature. Place into the fridge to chill; at least 1 hour (see Chef’s Tips).

Step 5

In a large pitcher filled with ice, stir together the 2 cups (500 ml) of rhubarb syrup with 1½ cups (375 ml) of the rhubarb syrup. Either top the pitcher with club soda or sparkling water (2 cups/ 500 ml) or divide the rhubarb-lemonade into 6 glasses and top with club soda (⅓ cup / 83 ml). To make individual servings, fill glasses with ice and pour ⅓ cup (83 ml) of rhubarb syrup, ¼ cup (63 ml) of lemon juice, and ⅓ cup (83 ml) club soda.

Step 6

Garnish pitcher or glasses with ribbons of rhubarb and/or lemon wheels.

Glass of pink rhubarb lemonade garnished with a curl of rhubarb, sitting on a counter with sun shining through a window