Learn how to make aloe vera juice at home with 2 ingredients. With just a few easy steps, you can enjoy a homemade elixir that captures the essence of aloe vera's nourishing properties. I share how to cut an aloe leaf plant to get the gel and how to use it to create an aloe vera drink that suits your taste and diet.
Crafting your own aloe vera juice not only ensures the freshness of the ingredients but also allows you to customize the flavor to your liking. Whether you seek a refreshing detox drink or wish to incorporate more natural remedies into your routine, learning how to make aloe vera juice is a step toward embracing the holistic qualities of this remarkable plant.
Be sure to use this recipe in our other healing juice recipes like celery juice, parsley juice, and beet juice.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love this recipe
- What is aloe vera?
- Benefits of aloe vera
- About aloe vera juice
- How to choose an aloe leaf
- Reduce oxidation
- Drink ingredients
- How to prepare aloe vera leaf
- How to extract gel from the leaf
- Extract the gel
- How to make aloe vera juice
- Juice variations
- How to store aloe vera gel
- Recipe FAQs
- Related drink recipes you may enjoy!
- 📖 Recipe
Why you'll love this recipe
- Making aloe vera juice at home is a simple and rewarding process that allows you to harness the natural benefits of this versatile plant.
- Aloe vera is renowned for its potential health advantages, ranging from soothing skin irritations like sunburn to supporting digestion.
- Easy to do and costs way less that store-bought aloe vera.
- Use any extra gel for homemade hand sanitizer.
- It takes only 15 minutes to make this homemade aloe vera juice recipe and get tips how to cut an aloe plant properly!
- Consuming an aloe juice drink is great for detoxification, hydration, weight loss, digestion, acne and more!
What is aloe vera?
The aloe vera plant is a succulent with amazing medicinal properties which you can learn about aloe genus plants here. When the clear gel is ingested internally like in an aloe vera drink, it provides incredible healing benefits as it has antibacterial properties, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, helps settle an upset stomach, reduce IBS and acid reflux.
Benefits of aloe vera
Aloe also acts as a laxative as it contains aloin, known as barbaloin, which is the yellowish-brown found in between the leaf and the gel used to stimulate bowel movements and treating constipation. Although, too much can be have toxic or severe side effects and is no longer allowed to be sold over-the-counter.
As a topical healer, pharmacologically aloe provides active ingredients for soothing sunburn, curing acne and acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal.
Internally: Aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory and supports lipid and carbohydrate metabolism which helps to maintain and balance sugar, cholesterol levels in blood, and body weight. It also contains extremely high antioxidant compositions, which remove and prevent free-radicals from entering the body.
Aloe plants act as an antibacterial, antitumor, and can help treat rheumatoid arthritis, detox the body, promote digestion, treat gastrointestinal disorders, IBS, upset stomachs and immune system issues.
Externally: When aloe is applied externally it regenerates damaged skin, and acts as an anti-bacterial and anti-fugal healer. Use it to heal wounds and sooth sunburn. It can also promote hair growth (yes add it to gel and conditioners!).
Drinking aloe vera is a wonderful way to get all these benefits. My favorite being that it is a detox drink that supports weight loss, treats digestion, inflammation, arthritis, immune deficiencies, and heals!
About aloe vera juice
The aloe plant is great to use the gel for topical use and to turn into a refreshing aloe vera juice recipe. I share exactly what you need to know about using the leaf for natural aloe in beverages (some parts of the aloe plant are toxic) and how to make organic at home aloe vera juice.
You can aloe vera gel to water with lemon or lime and a sweetener such as lemon, lime, honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, Stevia sweetener, or juice. Alternatively you can add it to other juice recipes such as Orange Pineapple Juice, Mango Juice, Watermelon Juice, Detox Beet Juice, and Green Machine Juice.
- Use the aloe vera gel to moisturize skin and relieve sunburn
- Rub on the face to treat and prevent acne
- Treat cuts, burns, and bee stings
Freeze any extra aloe vera gel or this aloe vera drink into small cubes and add it to smoothies such as Blueberry Banana Smoothie, Acai Bowls, Matcha Smoothie Bowls, Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie, and this Green Smoothie Recipe.
How to choose an aloe leaf
Selecting the right aloe vera leaf is crucial to ensure you extract the highest quality gel for various purposes, such as making aloe vera juice or applying it topically. Here's a guide on how to choose an aloe vera leaf:
Size and Color: Choose a leaf that is large, plump, and vibrant green. Healthy aloe vera leaves are typically firm and filled with a gel-like substance.
Thickness: Look for leaves that are thick and fleshy. Thin or shriveled leaves may indicate dehydration and might not contain as much gel.
Consistency: Gently squeeze the leaf to feel for firmness. The leaf should be firm but slightly yielding, indicating that it is filled with gel. Avoid leaves that feel excessively soft or mushy.
Leaf Appearance: Look for leaves without blemishes, spots, or discoloration. A healthy aloe vera leaf should have a consistent green color throughout.
Base of the Leaf: Choose a leaf that is cut cleanly from the plant rather than torn. A clean cut at the base is an indication of a well-maintained plant.
Age of the Leaf: Select leaves from the outer part of the plant, as these are generally older and contain a higher concentration of beneficial compounds. However, be mindful not to deplete the plant of too many leaves, as it needs them for photosynthesis and overall health.
Harvesting Time: If you have an aloe vera plant, harvest leaves when they are at least a few inches long. Choose leaves that are at least a couple of years old for the best quality gel.
Avoid Yellowing: Avoid leaves that are turning yellow, as this may indicate over-maturity or potential deterioration of the gel.
Once you've selected a suitable aloe vera leaf, you can harvest the gel by carefully slicing it open lengthwise and scooping out the clear gel with a spoon. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, and it's essential to be cautious when handling the yellowish sap near the leaf's skin known as aloin, as it can cause skin irritation for some individuals and be toxic causing a laxative effect.
Reduce oxidation
Once the aloe plant is cut it can start to oxidize immediately and the nutrients become less potent or lost. To minimize oxidation, cut about 2 inches off the whole leaf at a time to use and store the rest in the refrigerator. Or freeze pieces in ice cube trays for later use.
Drink ingredients
Please see the recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions found at the bottom of the post.
Only two ingredients are needed and a spoon or knife to scoop out the aloe gel from the inside of the leaves. What you need:
- one large aloe vera leaf (organic optional)
- fresh water (or coconut water)
- optional to add 2 tablespoons of honey, agave or maple syrup and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice for flavor
Be sure to try any aloe gel in this Hand Sanitizer Recipe.
How to prepare aloe vera leaf
First, wash the aloe leaf and using scissors or a knife, cut off the top and bottom ends off of the aloe leaf. Then slice the spikey sides off, removing the stings or thorns.
From there you can peel open the leaf into two halves, or use a knife to slice off one side.
How to extract gel from the leaf
The green skin and any yellow or green colored gel is toxic so make sure to remove that and wash it again after opening and completely discard the skin. Using a sharp knife or spoon, scoop or scrape across the bottom of the plant to remove the clear slimy gel.
Remove gel from the plant leaves and discard the leaves.
Extract the gel
Hold the gel with your hands under water to rinse it off or rinse it in a bowl with filtered water. You want the gel to be perfectly clear.
How to make aloe vera juice
Add 2 tablespoons of the aloe vera gel to a blender with 1 cup of water, lime juice, and maple syrup or agave sweetener. Blend for 1 minute to combine.
Pour the aloe vera juice into a cup and enjoy right away. Alternately, you can use more aloe, and fill the blender with more water for aloe water or a favorite juice. See this measurement conversion chart for making cups into liters and gallons.
I like to use this blender to make all my juices. It is high powered and great for an juicing recipes.
Juice variations
This recipe has a slight taste similar to an aloe water drink. To make aloe vera juice "juicier" you can add your favorite juice, coconut water, or more fresh lime or lemon juice and sweetener with the aloe gel. Or in place of water, all together, use coconut water for potassium and extra hydration.
How to store aloe vera gel
Storing aloe vera gel properly is essential to maintain its freshness and effectiveness, whether you've extracted it from a leaf or purchased it commercially. Here are some guidelines on how to store aloe vera gel:
Refrigerate:
Refrigeration: If you've extracted aloe vera gel from a fresh leaf, it's advisable to store it in the refrigerator. A cool environment helps slow down bacterial growth and preserve the gel's natural properties. Add a 1:1 ratio of honey to gel or use 500 mg vitamin c to ¼ cup of the gel (no water or added liquid) to preserve its freshness. I am able to store fresh aloe vera juice in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Freezing leftover gel is wonderful to add to smoothies for a later time. It preserves the nutrients from oxidizing. Add it to a one-inch ice cube tray to freeze and cover until ready to use.
Recipe FAQs
A little goes a long way so I suggest drinking one glass per day of this aloe vera drink recipe for its health benefits.
It is safe to drink 8 ounces of aloe juice everyday.
Drinking aloe vera in water or juice everyday is good for digestion, stomach issues, clean skin, hydration, detoxification, reducing inflammation, increasing antioxidant intake, weight loss support and treating arthritis.
Side effects of consuming aloe vera gel are the skin of an aloe leaf contains toxins that can cause kidney failure. This is in an extreme version, or if there is an allergy to aloe. Make sure to discard and not consume any of the green or yellow from the aloe plant before using it in an aloe vera drink.
Related drink recipes you may enjoy!
- Detox Beet Juice
- Detox Water Recipes
- Green Juice
- Celery Juice Weight Loss Recipe
- Carrot Juice for Skin
- Grapefruit Juice
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📖 Recipe
Aloe Vera Juice Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 aloe vera leaf (use 2 tablespoons for this juice recipe)
- 1 cup filtered drinking water or coconut water
- optional to add 2 tablespoons of honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice for flavor
Instructions
- Wash the aloe plant and slice the top and bottom ends off of the aloe leaf using a knife. Then slice the sides off, removing the stings. From there you can peel open the leaf into two halves, or use a knife to slice off one side. The green skin and any yellow or green colored gel is toxic so make sure to remove that and wash it again after opening and completely discard the skin.
- Using a sharp knife or spoon, scoop or scrape across the bottom of the plant to remove the clear gel. Hold the gel with your hands under water, or dip it into a bowl of water to rinse it off.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the aloe vera gel to a blender with 1 cup of water (and any sweetener and citrus juice if desired - see notes below). Blend for 1 minute to combine and enjoy right away.
Elena says
After read your blog every one can easily know all the benefits of aloe vera Juice. thank you so much for sharing this useful information with us
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You're welcome!
Farha Khan says
Thanks for an amazing support that how to use aloe vera how to make aloe vera drink and important tips n suggestions.. thank you
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You are welcome! So glad you find this article helpful!
Hannab says
I was wondering how long this stays for in the fridge?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
This will last for about 4-5 days in the refrigerator. It is more potent in nutrients for the first 24-48 hours.
Fatima Chavez says
I did not know about the toxins in the skin and yellow juice. Excellent information. Thank you.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You are welcome and glad it is helpful!
Kim Carlson says
THANKS for posting a simple recipe for using aloe vera gel!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You are welcome Kim! 🙂