If you have rhubarb growing in your garden, this rhubarb soda needs to be your next recipe. This easy homemade rhubarb simple syrup mixed with sparkling water and topped with edible flowers is fresh, beautiful, and so delicious. We served it as our welcome drink at our Garden Club luncheon and it was the hit of the whole afternoon. Keep reading for the full recipe plus tips for turning it into a cocktail.
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Quick Look
- 🌿 Recipe: Homemade Rhubarb Soda
- ⏲️ Ready In: 20 minutes
- 👪 Servings: 8 to 12 drinks
- 🔪 Difficulty: Easy
- 💭 Top Tip: Use sparkling water rather than flavored soda. It lets the rhubarb flavor really shine through.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Made with a simple 3 ingredient rhubarb simple syrup that comes together in minutes.
- The beautiful pink color makes it as stunning to look at as it is to drink.
- Completely customizable, serve it as a mocktail or add vodka or gin for a cocktail.
- The edible flower garnish makes it feel extra special with almost no extra effort.
- A wonderful way to use fresh garden rhubarb when it is in season.
- Don't throw away the leftover rhubarb solids, we have delicious ideas for using them up.
Rhubarb is one of those ingredients that feels like a real gift from the garden. Every June when it is ready to harvest I look for new ways to use it, and this homemade rhubarb soda has become one of my favorites.
The syrup takes about 15 minutes to make, the color is a gorgeous deep pink, and when you pour it over ice with sparkling water and a few edible flowers floating on top it looks like something from a fancy restaurant.
We served it as the welcome drink at our garden party straight from our garden shed bar, and our guests genuinely loved it. I admit it is now on permanent rotation for summer entertaining. Where I'm from we actually call it rhubarb pop - but whatever you call it, you are going to love it.
If you love this homemade rhubarb soda you might also enjoy our Strawberry Rhubarb Compote, or our Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream recipe. If you're looking for more summer drinks, check out our Tim Hortons Copycat Iced Capp recipe and our 3 ingredient Coconut Milkshakes.
What is Rhubarb Soda
Rhubarb soda is a homemade sparkling drink made by combining a simple rhubarb syrup with sparkling water. The syrup is made by simmering fresh rhubarb with sugar and water until the rhubarb breaks down and releases its gorgeous deep pink color, and flavor. Strain it, mix it with sparkling water over ice, and you have one of the most beautiful and refreshing summer drinks you can make. It is naturally tart from the rhubarb, sweet from the sugar, and so refreshing.
Ingredients
Full measurements in the recipe card.
For the rhubarb simple syrup you will need:
- Fresh rhubarb -about 2 cups chopped. Look for deep red stalks for the best pink color in your syrup.
- Sugar -1 cup. Regular white granulated sugar works perfectly here.
- Water -1 cup.
To assemble the rhubarb soda you will need:
- Sparkling water -1 cup per drink. Plain sparkling water is the clear winner here. We tested with Sprite (too sweet) and tonic water (too bitter) and sparkling water lets the rhubarb flavor really shine.
- Ice
- Edible flowers -pansies and violas are beautiful floating on top and completely edible. Optional but so pretty, and blooming when the rhubarb is in season.
Variations
- Rhubarb Cocktail -Add 1.5 oz of vodka or gin to your rhubarb soda for a beautiful summer cocktail. Gin pairs especially well with the tartness of the rhubarb.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Soda -Add a handful of fresh or frozen strawberries to the pot when making your syrup for a strawberry rhubarb version. The color is even more vibrant and the sweetness of the strawberry balances the tart rhubarb beautifully.
- Sweeter Version -If you prefer a sweeter drink add a little extra syrup to your glass. Start with 2 tablespoons per cup of sparkling water and adjust to taste.
- Rhubarb Lemonade -Swap the sparkling water for lemonade or sparkling lemonade for a rhubarb lemonade. So good on a hot day.
- Make it a Mocktail -Serve it in a pretty glass with a fancy garnish and a paper straw and it is every bit as special as a cocktail. Perfect for guests who don't drink alcohol.
How to Make Rhubarb Soda
- Step 1: Chop the rhubarb. Wash and chop your rhubarb stalks into roughly one inch pieces. You don't need to be precise, they are going to cook down completely. Discard the leaves as they are not edible.
- Step 2: Make the rhubarb syrup. Add the chopped rhubarb, sugar, and water to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until the rhubarb is very soft and the syrup is a beautiful deep pink color.
- Step 3: Strain the syrup. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl or large measuring cup. Stir the rhubarb gently in the sieve rather than pressing it down. The rhubarb will be very soft at this point and pressing it will force the pulp through the sieve and cloud your syrup. Let gravity do most of the work. You should have approximately 1 to 1.5 cups of beautiful pink syrup. Don't throw away the cooked rhubarb left in the sieve, it's sweet, soft, and delicious. See our tips below for ideas for using it up.
- Step 4: Assemble and serve your rhubarb soda. Fill a glass with ice. Add 2 tablespoons of rhubarb syrup. Top with 1 cup of sparkling water and stir gently to combine. Taste and add a little more syrup if you'd like it sweeter. Float a few edible flowers on top, add a paper straw and serve immediately.
Tips for the Best Rhubarb Soda
- Choose Red Rhubarb Stalks -The redder the stalks the deeper and more vibrant the pink color of your syrup. Green rhubarb will still taste great but the syrup will be more pale.
- Use Sparkling Water -We tested this recipe with Sprite and tonic water and sparkling water is the clear winner. Sprite made it too sweet and tonic water added a bitter flavor that competed with the rhubarb. Plain sparkling water lets the rhubarb flavor really shine.
- Stir Gently When Straining -Resist the urge to press the rhubarb down in the sieve. Stir it gently instead to keep your syrup clear and beautiful rather than cloudy.
- Adjust Sweetness To Taste -Start with 2 tablespoons of syrup per cup of sparkling water and add more if you prefer it sweeter. Everyone's taste is different.
- Double The Batch For A Party -One batch makes approximately 1 to 1.5 cups of syrup which is enough for 8 to 12 drinks. For a party of 4 or more we recommend doubling the batch.
- Make It Ahead -The syrup keeps well in the fridge so you can make it days ahead and just assemble the drinks when guests arrive.
What to Do with the Leftover Rhubarb
Don't throw away the cooked rhubarb solids left in your sieve after straining. They are already sweetened, perfectly soft, and full of rhubarb flavor. Here are some of our favorite ways to use them up:
- Stir into a compote: I stirred mine into our Strawberry Rhubarb Compote and it made it thicker and more rhubarb-y. So good.
- Spread on toast: It is essentially a soft rhubarb jam at this point. Spread it on buttered toast for a delicious breakfast treat, a scone, or a croissant.
- Spoon over yogurt: Stir it into plain Greek yogurt with a little granola for a beautiful breakfast or snack.
- Serve over ice cream: Spoon it warm over vanilla ice cream for a simple and delicious dessert.
- Stir into oatmeal: A spoonful stirred into your morning oatmeal adds a lovely tartness and natural sweetness.
Nothing goes to waste and every one of these options is delicious.
Storage
The rhubarb simple syrup keeps well in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Make it ahead of time and just assemble your drinks when you are ready to serve.
The assembled rhubarb soda is best served immediately as the sparkling water will go flat if it sits too long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rhubarb soda is sweet and lightly tart. It tastes fresh and summery. The rhubarb flavor is subtle but distinct and the beautiful pink color makes it feel really special.
Yes! Frozen rhubarb works perfectly for the syrup. No need to thaw it first, just add it straight to the pot with the sugar and water and simmer as directed. The color and flavor will be just as beautiful.
We use about 2 tablespoons of rhubarb syrup per cup of sparkling water as our starting point. Adjust to taste, add a little more if you prefer it sweeter or stronger in flavor.
No, rhubarb soda is a non-alcoholic mocktail. However it makes a beautiful base for a cocktail. Simply add 1.5 oz of vodka or gin to your glass before topping with the sparkling water.
More Summer Drink Ideas
If you try this homemade rhubarb soda or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
Recipe
Homemade Rhubarb Soda
Equipment
- wire sieve
Ingredients
For the Rhubarb Syrup
- 2 cups fresh rhubarb chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
To Make The Rhubarb Soda
- 2 tablespoon rhubarb syrup
- 4 ice cubes
- 1 cup sparkling water
- edible flowers optional
Instructions
To Make The Rhubarb Syrup
- Wash and chop your rhubarb stalks into roughly one inch pieces. Discard the leaves as they are not edible.2 cups fresh rhubarb
- Add the chopped rhubarb, sugar, and water to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the rhubarb is very soft and the syrup is a deep pink color.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl or large measuring cup. Stir the rhubarb gently in the sieve rather than pressing it down to keep your syrup clear and beautiful. You should have approximately 1 to 1.5 cups of syrup. Don't throw away the rhubarb solids, see our tips for delicious ways to use them up.
To Make Rhubarb Soda
- Fill a glass with ice. Add 2 tablespoons of rhubarb syrup and top with 1 cup of sparkling water. Stir gently to combine. Float a few edible flowers on top, add a straw, and serve immediately.2 tablespoon rhubarb syrup, 1 cup sparkling water, edible flowers , 4 ice cubes
Video
Notes
- Choose deep red rhubarb stalks for the most vibrant pink color in your syrup.
- Sparkling water is the clear winner here. We tested with Sprite (too sweet) and tonic water (too bitter), plain sparkling water lets the rhubarb flavor really shine.
- Double the batch for a party of 4 or more.
- The syrup keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Frozen rhubarb works perfectly, no need to thaw before using.
- Add 1.5 oz of vodka or gin to turn this into a summer cocktail.
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