12 Captivating Facts About Rhubarb Ginger Cooler Cocktail

The rhubarb ginger cooler is a refreshing and tasty cocktail that is perfect for spring and summer. This pink-hued drink gets its delightful flavor from sweet rhubarb combined with the zing of ginger and lemon.

Here are 12 fascinating facts about this sensational seasonal sipper:

1. Rhubarb has been used in food and medicine for thousands of years. The tart red stalks contain beneficial nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium. Rhubarb originally came from Asia and has been grown in Europe since the 1600s.
2. The ginger used in rhubarb ginger coolers adds a spicy kick and aids digestion. Ginger contains the phytochemical gingerol, which gives it anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
3. Lemon juice brightens up the flavor of rhubarb ginger coolers. The vitamin C in lemons boosts the immune system and helps your body absorb iron.
4. Simple syrup sweetens up the rhubarb’s tartness in this cocktail. Simple syrup is easy to make by heating equal parts sugar and water together until the sugar dissolves.
5. Rhubarb ginger coolers are often served in a copper mug. The metal reacts with the drink’s ingredients, giving it a Moscow mule vibe. The copper also keeps the cocktail chilled.
6. The sweet-tart flavor combo makes rhubarb ideal for mixing in cocktails. Other popular rhubarb cocktails include the rhubarb fizz, rhubarb gin rickey, and rhubarb margarita.
7. In the United States, raspberry-flavored rhubarb is referred to as “pie plant.” It earned this nickname since rhubarb is a common filling for fruit pies and crisps.
8. Oregon produces some of the sweetest rhubarb in North America. The climate in the Willamette Valley allows the rhubarb to grow slowly, developing more flavorful stalks.
9. Rhubarb leaves are toxic to humans due to their high concentration of oxalic acid. Only the stalks of the rhubarb plant should be eaten.
10. Rhubarb can be forced to grow earlier in cooler regions by placing overturned pots over the plants early in the season. This allows gardeners to harvest rhubarb weeks earlier.
11. Pink champagne or rosé make excellent alternatives to gin or vodka in rhubarb ginger cocktails. The fruitiness plays off the rhubarb for a refreshing springtime sip.
12. Freezing chopped rhubarb allows you to enjoy rhubarb ginger coolers year-round. The freezing process helps break down the rhubarb’s fibers, making it softer when thawed.

With its sweet-tart taste and vibrant pink color, the rhubarb ginger cooler is a fun, flavorful cocktail. Sip this springtime drink on a sunny patio or mix it up at home using garden-fresh rhubarb and quality spirits. Chilling the pitcher for a few hours allows the flavors to develop fully.

Garnish your rhubarb ginger cooler with sliced strawberries, orange wheels, or fresh mint sprigs. Mix and match different gins or vodkas to put your own spin on this seasonal delight.

Conclusion

From its long history to its harvest in Oregon valleys, rhubarb offers a unique and dynamic ingredient for cocktails. The refreshing and complex rhubarb ginger cooler highlights the best qualities of the “pie plant.”

Whip up a pitcher to enjoy on a spring day or stock your freezer with rhubarb to mix these coolers even in winter. With so many riffs possible with fruit, herbs, and spirits, you may find yourself as captivated by rhubarb as people have been for thousands of years.