By making this aloe vera juice drink at home, you’ll know it’s super fresh, 100% natural, and you’re in complete control of the ingredients. You can feel confident knowing you’re making the most of this healthful plant!
What is Aloe Vera?
The Aloe vera plant is a type of succulent plant from the Liliaceae family. The leaves, in particular, have become well known in the health and beauty space for their many benefits when used both topically (for sunburn, acne scarring, to treat burns and stings, etc.) and orally. You might also enjoy adding in or serving the homemade juice recipe with a pinch of cinnamon, preserved cherries, or some mint leaves.
Antioxidant-rich: With anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to the antioxidant-rich plant compound “polyphenols.” Skin benefits: While it’s usually applied topically for skin benefits, drinking aloe vera may also help keep your skin clear and supple. Good for digestion: As it contains natural laxative effects, aloe vera gel may help with various digestive issues, including potentially for IBS, too. Beneficial for acid reflux: While more tests are needed, aloe vera may help ease the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD. May improve oral health: Due to its antibacterial properties, aloe can aid with several oral/ dental issues such as gum disease, mouth inflammation, to reduce plaque, etc. May be beneficial diabetics: Studies show that aloe vera gel can reduce blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity.
Aloe vera: You can purchase single edible fresh aloe vera leaves (which you can find in Whole Foods and Sprouts) OR buy a plant to use multiple times.
It’s also possible to make this aloe vera drink with pre-prepared aloe vera gel. However, make sure that it’s edible and not filled with chemicals and preservatives. Same with the plant/leaves – make sure to purchase one that is edible.
Water: To dilute and make a base for the aloe vera drink. For more flavor, use coconut water. Sweetener: I use honey, but use whichever sweetener you prefer. Maple, agave, or even a sugar-free sweetener like erythritol or stevia. Citrus juice: Use fresh lemon juice or lime juice.
You’ll also need
Cutting board Sharp knife A large spoon A blender Gloves – whenever handling aloe vera, it’s important to wear protective gloves, as the latex within the leaf can be a skin irritant.
How to make Aloe Vera juice?
Make sure to leave behind all yellow or green rind. We only want the white/clear aloe vera. If you consume the yellow/green parts, it can cause stomach discomfort. Aloe latex, in particular, is bitter and has laxative properties, and could lead to serious health complications.
Mango aloe vera juice Aloe vera pineapple juice Watermelon aloe juice Aloe peach juice Aloe orange juice Add it to lemonade (regular, mint lemonade, pineapple lemonade, etc.)
You can start introducing aloe into your diet by adding it to smoothies and blending it into other juice drinks. If you have time to spare, slice the bottom off the leaf and place it upright in a container and allow it to drain for an hour. This will help drain the yellow aloe latex, so it’s easier to rinse away any remaining residue later on. Then run the knife from the bottom (thicker part) to the tip on both sides, slicing off the thorny edges. Next, to extract the gel, use a large spoon to scrape all the aloe vera gel from the bottom green leaf.
Recipe tips and notes
Adjust the ratio: Feel free to dilute the juice with additional water if you prefer. Wear protective gloves as the latex layer can cause skin irritation. For texture: Chop some aloe into tiny pieces and mix it into your drink of choice. The slightly chewy texture is fun for kids and adults alike. Alternatively, just blend it to your desired consistency. Rinse the aloe well: You need to remove all the aloe latex for health reasons and rid the aloe of some bitterness. Adjust the sweetness to taste: If you plan to add the aloe water to other juices, you may not need any additional sweetener.
More juice recipes
Watermelon juice (4 methods) Carrot juice Tomato juice (3 methods) Cucumber juice (3 methods) Pineapple juice (Multiple methods) Apple Juice Kiwi juice Cherry Juice (Multiple Methods)
If you try this method on how to make aloe vera juice, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie! Blend until smooth (it will be very frothy). Then, pour the pure aloe vera juice into a cup and enjoy it alone or with ice! You can also naturally preserve the aloe vera gel for longer by adding vitamin C or vitamin E to the gel. This will increase the shelf life to 2 months! Store: As with most fresh juice, you’ll reap the most benefits the sooner you drink it. However, you can store any leftover homemade aloe vera juice in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Freeze: I prefer to freeze the aloe vera gel (blended) rather than the juice. However, either is possible. Pour it into an ice cube tray so you can easily pop a cube or two into juices and smoothies or defrost it for other uses.
