Rhubarb Lemonade Concentrate

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This rhubarb lemonade concentrate is a bright, tart-sweet summer drink base you can water bath can for the pantry. Make rhubarb juice, simmer it with lemon juice and sugar, and you’ll have jars ready to turn into instant lemonade whenever you want.

Prep Time1

Cook Time10

Canning Time8

Total Time1 18

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: canning lemonade concentrate, rhubarb canning recipe

Servings: servings, about 6 pints

Equipment

Ingredients

2 pounds rhubarb see notes
2 cups water
2 cups lemon juice
4 cups sugar

Instructions

Prepare the rhubarb juice: Combine the chopped rhubarb and water in a saucepan. Simmer until the rhubarb is very soft and broken down, then strain to extract the juice. Measure 4 cups rhubarb juice.
Make the concentrate: In a clean pot, combine 4 cups rhubarb juice, 2 cups lemon juice, and 4 cups sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves, then simmer 1 to 2 minutes to heat through.
Fill jars: Ladle hot concentrate into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove bubbles, adjust headspace, wipe rims, and apply lids and bands fingertip-tight.
Water bath can: Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude). Turn off heat, rest jars 5 minutes in canner, then remove to cool 12 to 24 hours.
Store: Check seals, label, and store sealed jars in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate after opening.

Notes

Two pounds rhubarb is about 7 to 8 cups sliced. Some rhubarb is more juicy than others, but this amount should yield about 4 cups juice. If you have extra, you can add it to this recipe for a slightly higher yield or save it for other recipes.

The exact ratios in this recipe are not required for canning safety. Rhubarb juice is safe for canning on its own, as is lemon juice. Feel free to use more or less rhubarb juice, lemon or sugar in this recipe.

To reconstitute, I like to use 3 parts water to 1 part concentrate.

Altitude Adjustments

The altitude adjustments for water bath canning Rhubarb Lemonade Concentrate are as follows:

For Under 1,000 Feet in Elevation - 10 minutes for pints and half pints.
For 1,001 to 6,000 Feet in Elevation - 15 minutes for pints and half pints.
For Above 6,001 Feet in Elevation - 20 minutes for pints and half pints.

Nutrition