Aloe vera, or, more specifically, the gel from aloe vera leaves is becoming more popular these days, with people purchasing pre-made juice from the store or trying their hand making it at home. But it’s no secret that aloe vera is a pretty acquired taste.
Aloe Vera juice has a fairly strong taste, with a bitter undertone and a hint of acidity. Many store-bought juices are sweeter and more sugary, which serves to hide the bitter taste.
There are lots of different ways of making aloe vera juice, whether it be homemade or store-bought. The rest of this article will explore everything you need to know about aloe vera juice.
Is Drinking Aloe Vera Juice Good for You?
Aloe vera has a plethora of health benefits, from its antioxidant and antibacterial properties to overall skin health, and is used for many reasons.
Aloe vera is primarily known for its skin healing properties, even being used as a remedy for various skin conditions like burns and surface wounds.
It’s a well-reputed anti-aging supplement for skin, giving it a vibrant glow. In juice form, aloe vera is a great whole-food supplement, containing B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and zinc.
The antioxidant properties of aloe vera are beneficial for preventing the onset of certain diseases, including heart disease and cancer. This powerhouse of a gel can also help lower blood sugar, potentially benefitting those with pre-diabetes.
Aloe vera can also potentially reduce bad cholesterol, too, although some of the plant’s benefits aren’t confirmed by science.
Moreover, according to Apricot Power, aloe vera has potent antiseptic properties, potentially limiting and preventing the spread of infections. Lastly, aloe vera juice offers a variety of gut health benefits, along with being a good treatment for constipation.
As always, take everything in moderation. Aloe vera gel (and therefore the juice) contains a pretty powerful laxative, potentially causing dehydration. A common side-effect of aloe vera juice consumption is stomach pain and cramping.
Aloe vera can also cause a disruption in natural liver function, leading to improper detoxification.
The biggest warning label of aloe vera is that it contains latex, which many people are allergic to. Ingestion of latex can lead to stomach issues and reduced levels of potassium.
Why Is Aloe Vera Juice Bitter?
Aloe vera in its natural form is quite bitter, and its taste is unpleasant to most people. The outer leaf of the aloe vera plant is bitter, and that’s why any homemade juice will taste particularly bitter.
Store-bought aloe vera juice often tastes different because it comes in a variety of flavors, unless you purchase 100% organic aloe vera juice, of course.
How to Improve the Taste of Homemade Aloe Vera Juice
With the natural taste of aloe vera being unpleasant and store-bought juices having a mix of flavors and added sugar, sometimes making your own juice is the best plan. Thankfully, there are lots of ways you can make the taste of aloe vera juice more palatable.
It’s worth noting that if you have the gel extract of a home-grown plant, you can just add it to salads, alcoholic drinks, or ice cream to disguise the taste of the gel. You can apply this to juice, too. Simply add the aloe vera gel to your smoothie or shake and enjoy.
If you’re wanting a purer juice, then you can add some kind of acidity to balance the flavor. Lemon, lime, and orange are great flavors to give the juice some zing!
Cucumber is a more neutral flavor that may help disguise the aloe vera taste if you just need a little something different.
If you really can’t stand the taste at all, cranberry juice is strong enough to mask the aloe vera taste entirely. On the other hand, if the bitterness is what’s getting to you, try adding something sweet like apples or pears. Naturally, sweeteners will do the trick as well.
Final Thoughts
Aloe vera is a plant extract that has many good health benefits, and in moderation, is a great supplement for many people. In juice form, aloe vera tastes rather bitter and smells pretty awful, too.
But underneath the surface, this succulent has a variety of health benefits that are good for the skin and contains plentiful vitamins and minerals for an overall health boost.
The taste of aloe vera definitely takes some getting used to. Its naturally bitter taste makes it hard to drink plan; rather, it’s better when mixed with another fruit or incorporated in smoothing or shake.
Some additions like cranberry juice will hide the flavor altogether, while others only dilute it.
If you’re not willing to put in the effort to make your own juice, there are plenty of online stores that offer 100% organic aloe vera juice or flavored drinks that make aloe vera much more palatable.