Step 1

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.

Step 2

Run the knife from the bottom (thicker part) to the tip on both sides, slicing off the thorny edges.

Step 3

Either use the knife to peel away strips of the green leaf from the top OR you can often peel it by hand.

Step 4

Use a large spoon to scrape all the aloe vera gel from the bottom green leaf.

Step 5

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 6

Transfer the aloe to a blender along with the water, lemon juice, and sweetener.

Step 7

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!

Step 8

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.