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How to make Aloe vera juice (aka aloe water) with 3 ingredients in just 10 minutes. This Aloe vera drink is simple, refreshing, and packed with health benefits!
When I say that this post is five years in the making, I’m not even exaggerating. Way back in 2017, I went through an aloe obsession and may have mentioned once or twice that an aloe post was on the way. Well, better late than never, right?! Within this post, I’ll take you through how to make aloe vera gel and aloe vera juice (aloe water), including top tips and FAQs!
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!
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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.
What are Aloe Vera juice benefits?
Aloe vera contains several healing plant compounds, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Thus, drinking aloe vera juice comes with several benefits.
- 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.
The recipe ingredients
You only require three ingredients, plus water, for this aloe vera juice recipe!
- 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 might also enjoy adding in or serving the homemade juice recipe with a pinch of cinnamon, preserved cherries, or some mint leaves.
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.
Flavor variations
For those new to this product and who want to know how to make aloe vera juice taste better, you may want to dilute it with other flavors by using other liquids in place of water in the aloe vera juice recipe. Some of my favorites include:
- 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.
How to make Aloe Vera juice?
Step 1: Prepare the Aloe Vera gel
First, wash the leaf. Then, use a small sharp paring knife to slice off the bottom and top 1-2 inches of the leaf.
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.
Either use the knife to peel away strips of the green leaf from the top OR you can often peel it by hand.
Next, to extract the gel, use a large spoon to scrape all the aloe vera gel from the bottom green leaf.
Transfer the aloe to a bowl with a solution of 1 Tbsp white vinegar per 8 Fl oz. water (1 cup/240 ml) and rinse well to get rid of all the sticky yellowy gel (called aloe latex) on the outside of the aloe. This can be a skin irritant, so you can use a fine-mesh sieve to lower the gel into the bowl.
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.
Step 2: Blend the juice
Transfer the aloe to a blender along with the water, lemon juice, and sweetener.
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!
How to store and freeze
Make ahead: You can slice and rinse the aloe vera (and optionally blend it into aloe vera gel) and keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for 6 months.
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.
FAQs
If you’re consuming aloe juice for health reasons, it’s recommended to consume up to 8oz (one cup) per day. I recommend enjoying it several times per week rather than daily.
You can drink it first thing in the morning, an hour before eating breakfast, to maximize its detoxifying benefits. Otherwise, enjoy it after meals or even right before bed. I recommend drinking it on an empty stomach for the best results.
Aloe has a bitter, earthy, plant-y flavor. However, once diluted into an aloe drink, the flavor is pretty subtle and only slightly bitter. It can also easily be added to other juices/drinks to further mask any bitterness.
According to several studies, aloe can help reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. All you need is a tablespoon of the aloe vera gel diluted with water or juice 1-2 times per day.
If you don’t want the hassle of preparing it yourself, you can buy the juice in several health stores and grocery stores.
There are three layers in an aloe leaf. The green outer skin. A yellowy viscous latex, and the clear gel.
The latex is bitter and contains a natural laxative that can cause serious health problems if over-consumed. For that reason, it’s important to remove all of it from the aloe gel by rinsing it away.
There are several potential side effects to take note of. For example, aloe is a natural laxative.
More so, aloe should be treated with caution by those with liver, kidney, or heart issues and those taking certain medications (such as other laxatives, diuretics, and diabetes meds).
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!
How To Make Aloe Vera Juice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large leaf aloe vera 10 oz/285 g gel
- 2 lemons 6 Tbsp juice (or lime juice)
- 2 Tbsp honey or sweetener of your choice; adjust to taste
- 2 cups water
This will yield about 3.5 cups juice
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Aloe Vera Gel
- Wash the leaf. Then, use a small sharp paring knife to slice off the bottom and top 1-2 inches of the leaf.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.
- Run the knife from the bottom (thicker part) to the tip on both sides, slicing off the thorny edges.
- Either use the knife to peel away strips of the green leaf from the top OR you can often peel it by hand.
- Use a large spoon to scrape all the aloe vera gel from the bottom green leaf.
- Transfer the aloe to a bowl with a solution of 1 tbsp white vinegar per 8 Fl oz water (1 cup/240 ml) and rinse well to get rid of all the sticky yellowy gel (called aloe latex) on the outside of the aloe. This can be a skin irritant sp use a fine-mesh sieve to lower the gel into the bowl.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.
Step 2: Blend the Juice
- Transfer the aloe to a blender along with the water, lemon juice, and sweetener.
- 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!
How to Store and Freeze?
- Make ahead: You can slice and rinse the aloe vera (and optionally blend it into aloe vera gel) and keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for 6 months.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 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.
Video
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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
First time preparing or dinking aloe. I used about 10 drops of stevia as the sweetener and added about 6-7 mint leaves. Put it all in a nutribullet. It tasted like a cool refreshening lemonade. Much better than expected! Looking forward to the next one.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the aloe vera juice, Dorothy! Adding mint and stevia sounds like a great idea. I hope you make it again! Happy cooking!
I made this the other day (using one leaf of aloe from a large plant I have at home) – it’s very refreshing! I’ve been having issues with reflux and was looking for some way to sooth my esophagus and upper stomach area. In addition to a bland diet, this drink seems to really be helping. Going to make some more today.Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
Thank you for your comment, Jackie. 🙂