Rhubarb Cordial is a delicious way to transform fresh, tart rhubarb into a sweet and refreshing drink that you can enjoy all summer long! It's the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, and made with just a few simple ingredients in the comfort of your own kitchen. Mix it into ice cold lemonade, sparkling water, cocktails, or mocktails for a drink that's bursting with bright rhubarb flavor.
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Not only is rhubarb cordial super easy to prepare, but it's a great way to use up rhubarb and make the most of rhubarb season. By turning fresh rhubarb into a flavorful syrup, you can enjoy the delicious flavors all throughout summer. If you're looking for a sweet, unique addition to your summer drinks, this rhubarb cordial delivers goodness in every sip!
Looking for more summer drink recipes? Try this delicious Easy Raspberry Mimosa Recipe or this festive Bomb Pop Cocktail Drink. This Wisconsin Brandy Slush and Pink Lemonade Slush are also great and refreshing for the summertime!
What is rhubarb cordial?
Rhubarb cordial is a concentrated fruit syrup made by simmering rhubarb with sugar and flavorings, then diluting it with water to create a refreshing drink. It has a sweet-tart flavor and is especially popular during rhubarb season. I like to keep a jar in the fridge and mix it with sparkling water for an easy afternoon drink or add it to cocktails when entertaining.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Refreshing and sweet - This cordial perfectly balances the natural tartness of rhubarb with just the right amount of sweetness, making it great for summer drinks. Try serving it alongside homemade pink lemonade, iced tea, or your favorite picnic recipes for a refreshing treat.
- Simple ingredients - Made with just a handful of ingredients, this recipe is straightforward and easy to whip up!
- Homemade goodness - Skip the artificial sweeteners and extra ingredients in store-bought syrups and enjoy a cordial made in your own kitchen.
- Perfect way to use fresh rhubarb - Whether it's from your own garden, a local farmers market, or the grocery store, this recipe is a delicious way to make the most of rhubarb season! If you enjoy fruity drinks, you might also love our Berry Sparkler or Raspberry Fizz for another refreshing option.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this rhubarb cordial recipe!
- Fresh rhubarb stalks - Use the freshest rhubarb you can find for the best flavor and color. Look for firm, brightly-colored stalks and avoid overly wilted rhubarb.
- Water - Helps extract the flavor from the rhubarb and creates the syrup base.
- Vanilla - Adds a touch of warmth and sweetness.
- Juice and zest of 1 large lemon - Brightens the cordial and adds a fresh, citrus flavor. Freshly squeezed is preferred for the fullest flavor. Use a lemon zester to make this step super easy!
- Granulated sugar - Sweetens the cordial and acts as a natural preservative to help it stay fresh longer.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Try orange zest - If you don't have any lemons on hand or want a slightly different citrus flavor, orange zest works great as a substitution. It's slightly sweeter but still pairs wonderfully with rhubarb.
- Add warm spices - If you're looking for extra depth of flavor, sprinkle in some ground ginger or cinnamon during cooking.
- Herbal twist - Stir in a handful of mint leaves, a sprig of rosemary, or a few crushed cardamom pods for unique herbal flavors.
- Berry blend - Feel free to mix in blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, or any of your favorite fruits during cooking for an extra bright and flavorful cordial.
How to Make Homemade Rhubarb Syrup
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, follow the steps below for this easy rhubarb drink recipe.
- Step 1: Place chopped rhubarb and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 10 minutes, keeping an eye on it as it may boil over and reducing the heat if needed.
- Step 2: Strain the juice and return it to the saucepan and add vanilla, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar. Heat over medium-high heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture reaches a syrup-like consistency.
- Step 3: Pour syrup into a sealable jar and allow to cool.
- Step 4: When ready to serve, pour syrup into a glass and add water until your desired taste is reached. I typically use a 1:4 ratio of syrup and water.
Helpful Tips
- Choose fresh rhubarb - Look for rhubarb stalks that are bright in color, firm, and crisp. The fresher the rhubarb, the better quality the cordial will be.
- Maintain a gentle simmer - To keep the rhubarb tart and flavorful and avoid a cloudy cordial, use medium-high heat until it reaches a gentle simmer and maintain it just until the rhubarb softens. Be careful not to overcook.
- Adjust sweetness to taste - For a more tart cordial, reduce the sugar slightly. If you prefer a sweeter flavor, add a little bit more sugar while the mixture is still warm. Just remember, the sugar helps stabilize the syrup so we don't want to omit too much of it.
- Use a sterilized bottle - If you want to further extend the shelf life of the cordial, store it in a clean, sterilized bottle to keep it fresher for longer.
- Don't skip the lemon zest - The zest adds bright citrus flavor that balances the tart rhubarb and gives the cordial a fresher, more vibrant taste.
- Press gently when straining - Use the back of a spoon to press out extra juice from the rhubarb, but avoid pushing too hard or too much pulp may make the cordial cloudy.
- Let it cool completely before storing - Allow the cordial to cool to room temperature before sealing it in a jar or bottle to help maintain freshness and avoid excess condensation.
- Taste before serving - Rhubarb can vary in tartness, so start with less water when mixing and adjust until the cordial tastes just right for you.
- Try sparkling water for serving - For a fun twist, mix the cordial with sparkling water instead of still water to make a refreshing homemade rhubarb soda.
- Save the cooked rhubarb - Don't toss the leftover rhubarb pulp! Stir it into yogurt, oatmeal, or spread it on toast like a quick fruit jam. You can even spoon it over homemade pancakes or waffles for an easy breakfast topping.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! If you don't have fresh rhubarb on hand or it isn't in season where you live, frozen rhubarb works well in this recipe and can be used straight from the freezer with thawing.
Cloudy rhubarb cordial usually happens when too much pulp gets pressed through the strainer or the rhubarb is cooked too long. For a clearer cordial, gently simmer the rhubarb just until softened and press lightly when straining. Don't worry though - cloudy cordial is still perfectly fine to drink and tastes just as delicious!
If your cordial is too thin, simmer it a little longer to reduce and thicken. If it becomes too thick, stir in a splash of water until it reaches your desired consistency.
After you've strained your rhubarb for the juice, you'll have quite a bit of leftover pulp. Don't throw it away! It is delicious stirred into yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, or spread on toast like a quick fruit jam.
Mix rhubarb cordial with cold water, sparkling water, lemonade, or iced tea for a refreshing drink. A 1:4 ratio of cordial to water is a great starting point, but you can adjust it to taste.
Absolutely! Rhubarb cordial makes a delicious mixer for vodka, gin, prosecco, or sparkling wine but also works beautifully in mocktails.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
Rhubarb cordial will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks in an airtight container or bottle.
Freezing Instructions
This cordial freezes super well and can be kept in a freezer-safe container or ice cube tray for easy serving.
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Rhubarb Cordial
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh rhubarb stalks (cleaned and chopped)
- 2 ¼ cups water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- Place chopped rhubarb in a medium saucepan with water.
- Over medium-high heat, bring contents to a boil. Allow to boil for 10 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on it because it may boil over. Reduce heat if needed.
- Pour mixture through a strainer and into another pan. Use a spoon to press as much juice out as possible. Discard rhubarb or keep it to make a quick jam.
- Pour juice back into your saucepan. Add vanilla, lemon juice and zest, and sugar.
- Heat over medium-high heat and allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes or until it reaches a syrup-like consistency.
- Pour syrup into a sealable jar and allow to cool.
- When ready to serve, pour syrup into a glass and add water until your desired taste is reached. I typically use a 1:4 ratio of syrup and water.
Notes
- Fresh, firm rhubarb will give the best flavor and brightest color for the cordial.
- Keep an eye on the saucepan while boiling, as rhubarb can foam and boil over quickly. Reduce heat if needed.
- Press the cooked rhubarb gently through the strainer to extract extra juice without making the cordial cloudy.
- The finished cordial is concentrated. For serving, start with a 1:4 ratio of cordial to water and adjust to taste.
- Don't throw away the cooked rhubarb! Use it to make a quick jam, stir into yogurt, or spoon over oatmeal.
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