Quick Answer: What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?
Rhubarb has a strong sour taste with a tart punch. However, it depends on the variety of every rhubarb, as some rhubarbs have the tart flavor spiking to be bitter. Some people draw resemblances to the rhubarb taste with unripe citrus fruits like apples, grapes, prunes, cranberries, etc. But on the whole, rhubarbs have a distinct flavor of their own.
Dive into the article to understand in detail the taste of rhubarb!
What is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a perennial plant with fleshy vibrant pale pink to red stalks that are edible.
It is a spring vegetable somewhat similar to celery.
Mainly it grows during the winter in mountainous and temperate regions.
They are handy for cooking purposes and come in a variety. The most common ones in the West are culinary or garden rhubarb.
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What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?
Rhubarbs are generally sour with a punch of a tart flavor if it’s eaten raw. However, it is unique in its juicy and crispy taste, resembling more of a fruit than a vegetable. Some say it is equivalent to a blend taste of fresh green apple and celery with a prominent tangy taste.
The extremity of sourness depends upon the type of rhubarb.
Unfortunately, many people get their tastebuds crazy with the taste. So, to reduce the sourness, sugar or strawberries are added while cooking and baking.
The two popular rhubarbs are the forced rhubarbs and the maincrop rhubarb.
Here, forced rhubarb takes the lead by giving a delicate flavor. Alongside, maincrop rhubarbs have a pronounced flavor.
However, some say that the taste of the rhubarb depends upon the maturity of the stalks and their size.
What is the Texture Of Rhubarb?
Rhubarbs have a firm, crunchy and juicy texture.
They look just like plants. If you come across rhubarbs in the grocery store, they might look like a long celery stalk with the same texture.
They also have fibrous strings. But to make it palatable, ensure to cook them instead of eating raw peeling the outer skin.
Does Raw Rhubarb Taste Good?
Eating raw rhubarb is fine if your tastebud craves a tart taste.
Just slice and dice the rhubarb stalk and add some sugar to get a crunchy bite. However, generally, people prefer consuming it cooked to get a crunch and a tangy bolt taste.
What Does Rhubarb Taste Similar To?
A raw rhubarb taste is sour depending upon its maturity and resembles many unripened fruits amid being a vegetable.
Here’s a quick classification of the various tastes that rhubarb resemble;
- The sour and tangy taste arises from citrus fruits like lemon and lime.
- The puckery taste resembles green, unripe apples, prunes, and grapes.
Does Rhubarb Taste Like Strawberry?
No! rhubarb doesn’t taste like strawberry.
Strawberries have a sweet taste, and rhubarb has a tart taste.
However, many recipes have a delicious flavor when added together rhubarb and strawberries to get a sweet and sour taste in the dish.
What Does Cooked Rhubarb Taste Like?
You get a plucky sour and tangy taste while tasting cooked rhubarb.
However, to balance this taste, rhubarb has a sweet counterpart. It enhances the flavor of baked dishes, salads, stews, soups, etc. than its natural form.
Also, cooked rhubarbs become mushy and more flavorful, combined with other ingredients.
Is Raw Rhubarb Poisonous?
Eating raw rhubarb is safe because certain plant parts are toxic unless you eat the correct part. For example, you can eat the stalk but discard the leaves and the roots since they are considered poisonous.
The reason why the leaves are unsafe is because of the oxalic acid that is unsafe for us.
To Sum It Up
I hope this helped you get a good understanding of the taste of rhubarb!
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