Recipe Rhubarb as a substitute for lemon juice

Those who know me know how much I love rhubarb, especially in cooking.

In 2021 I asked Christiana Blais (nutritionist and culinary food science specialist) if it is possible to replace lemon juice with rhubarb or sea buckthorn juice.

"If it's for canning where lemon juice is used to lower the pH, I would say no. But if it's for cooking recipes, yes of course! Another local alternative like verjuice." – Christiana Blais

I was very excited by her answer, because we don't always have a fresh lemon on hand and I'm not a fan of canned lemon juice!

In the documentary "Colombe sauvage" Colombe St-Pierre says that she uses rhubarb juice or She also uses the juice of unripe currants instead of lemon.

Recently (2025), Richard Lebel, a contributor to Rhubarborium, unearthed an article, published in 1980 (see picture), on the use of rhubarb juice.

So when you make your next recipe for fish en papillote in the oven or on the BBQ or when you want to make a vinaigrette, replace the lemon juice with rhubarb juice, the taste will surprise you!