Rhubarb is a perennial herb grown for its attractingly succulent, rose red, edible leafy stalks. This cool-season plant is native to the Siberia and widespread in many regions of Europe and North America as “pie plant.” In its natural habitat, the plant expands over the ground surface as a large spread.
Botanically, it belongs to the family of Polygonaceae, in the genus: Rheum, and known as Rheum rhabarbarum.
|Rheum rhabarbarum plant.
Photo courtesy: Rochelle
|Fresh rhubarbe stalks in the market.
Photo courtesy: roland
Rhubarb is one of the easy plants to grow and can last for many years (10-15 years) once established. It is usually propagated through implanting old rhizome (root) divisions. Compltely grown plant features 12 to 18 inches long leaf-petiole, spreading into a broad, heart-shaped, dark green leaf. It is these stalks (petioles) which are being used (upon discarding their top-leaf part) for human consumption. The petioles (stalks) can be ready for harvesting from the second year onwards when they reach sufficient size of about one to two inches in thickness.
Several cultivars exist. Some of the traditional varieties grown inside the USA are Canada-red, cherry red, Burgess-`Colossal’, MacDonald, ruby, valentine,…etc. Generally, red-stalk varieties preferred since they tend to have more subtle, sweeter stalks.
Rhubarb is one of the least calorie vegetables. 100 g fresh petioles carry just 21 calories. Nonetheless, it holds some vital phytonutrients such as dietary fiber, polyphenolic antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Further, its petioles contain no saturated fats or cholesterol.
The stalks are good at several B-complex vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid.
Red color stems carry more vitamin-A than the green varieties. Further, the stalks also contain small amounts of polyphenolic flavonoid compounds like ß-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. These compounds convert into vitamin-A inside the human body and deliver same protective effects of vitamin-A. Vitamin-A is a powerful natural antioxidant which is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucosa. It is also an essential vitamin for healthy eyesight. Research studies suggest that natural foods rich in vitamin-A may help protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
As in other greens like kale, spinach, etc., rhubarb stalks also provide proper amounts of vitamin-K. 100 g of fresh stalks provide 29.3 µg or about 24% of daily recommended intake of this vitamin. Vitamin-K has a potential role in bone health by promoting osteoblastic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has an established role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Its stalks also contain healthy levels of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. However, most of these minerals do not absorb into the body as they undergo chelation into insoluble complexes by oxalic acid, which then excreted out.
|Principle||Nutrient Value||Percentage of RDA|
|Total Fat||0.20 g||1%|
|Dietary Fiber||1.8 g||5%|
|Pantothenic acid||0.085 mg||1.5%|
|Vitamin A||102 IU||3.5%|
|Vitamin C||8 mg||13%|
|Vitamin E||0.27 mg||2%|
|Vitamin K||29.3 µg||24%|
Fresh rhubarb stalks can be readily available in the markets from April until August. If you are growing them in the backyard, harvest its leaf petiole (stalk) by grabbing at its base, simultaneously pulling and twisting as you do it while snapping celery stalks. Immediately separate the petiole from its leaf part (leaf blade). Green tops of rhubarb contain oxalic acid as well as poisonous glycosides. Additionally, the top greens drain away nutrients from its stalk.
While buying from the markets look for fresh, firm, crispy bright-red color stalks. They usually put for sale in bunches along with other typical greens. Avoid those stalks that feature dull, slump or bruise or blemishes on the surface.
|Beautiful rhubarb sections!
Photo courtesy: kwbridge
Once at home, harvested or purchased stalks should be placed in a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator set at 32°F and 95 percent relative humidity. This way, stalks can stay fresh for about 2-3 weeks.
In the shops, one may also find ready-to-use, processed rhubarb preparations like canned, vacuum-packed, freeze-dried, etc.
|Beautiful rhubarb pie!
Photo courtesy: purpleslog
Photo courtesy: lejoe
Fresh rhubarb stalks feature rich sweet-tart flavor. In general, rhubarb stalks of young crinkled leaf tops have no or few strings and have a sweet taste.
To prepare: Trim the ends using a paring knife. Wash them in cold running water, gently scrubbing the surface using fingers. Cut stalks into 1/2-inch to 1-inch pieces using a paring knife. Usually, their extreme tartness is somewhat tamed by the addition of sugar, honey, and glucose syrups.
Here are some serving tips:
Its crispy, juicy stalks can be used in the preparations of sauces, preserve, jellies, jams, syrups, sorbet, juice…etc.
Rhubarb is best remembered for its delicious pies.
It can also be used in the preparations of tarts, puddings, crumbs, pancakes, muffins, strudel,..etc.
Top greens of rhubarb should be avoided in the cooking. Its leaf (blade) contains unusually high amounts of oxalic acid, a naturally-occurring substance found in some vegetables. 100 g of leaves contain about 0.59 - 0.72 mg of oxalates. Lowest published lethal dose (LDLo) of oxalate in humans is 600 mg/kg. Oxalate can cause severe toxic symptoms even at much lower concentrations than this on the human body. Symptoms may include burning of the eyes, mouth, and throat; skin edema, difficulty breathing. In severe cases, it can result in kidney failure, convulsions, coma, and death. (Medical Disclaimer).
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Further Reading (Links open in new window)
University of Illinois extension.- Vegetable directory.
Specialty Crop Profile: Rhubarb.