Is anyone eating ALOE, and if so, with what accompaniment ?

[Cheese Boy]

Consuming aloe is good because it's supposed to have many health benefits. The problem that arises is how do you eat something that is so slimy and so bitter? I've tried eating aloe with sliced cantaloupe and to the cantaloupe's credit it proved to be a very good companion to the slimy aloe. My next experiment is going to be adding aloe cubes to yogurt. After that, it's going to be attempts with perhaps smoothies or agua frescas of some kind. Fellow hounds, how are you eating aloe? Seeking suggestions. TIA.

[paulj]

Andrew's taste of an Ecuadorian Aloe vitamin drink has cured me of any desire to try it (though I have used small pieces on a burn). :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR1I3P...

[Cheese Boy]

AZ is a comic (especially with durian).
I didn't think he'd have a tough time with aloe though. Still very funny.

[paulj]

In the States, do people actually scrape the gel from the leaves (as done in the video), or just buy it processed in bottles? I think I have aloe 'leaves' in ethnic groceries, but haven't paid much attention to them.

[Cheese Boy]

I'm guessing a lot of people reap the benefits of aloe in bottled drinks.

Asian stores have MANY flavored aloe drinks: pineapple, pomegranate, kiwi, ... etc,
but most of them are artificially flavored and loaded with sugar. I opted for the real thing as opposed to anything of the bottled variety. Youtube had this great video on how to clean an aloe leaf. I tried it for myself and I felt as if I had filleted a fish or cut a mango to be quite honest. It was fun.

Cleaning the aloe leaf --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLiwUF...

[KaimukiMan]

wow, that was an enormous leaf she started with, but fascinating to watch, wish it was captioned would love to know what she was saying.

[ferret]

The "reap the benefits" part is spurious at best. If it makes you feel good to be eating aloe, go for it, just don't fall for the hype.

[Cheese Boy]

Yep, agree, kinda like the acclaimed detox foot pads.

[ferret]

My sister used to live in the SouthWest and had aloe plants growing around her pool. We'd snap off a leaf and rub the gel on sunburns - never once considered ingesting it.

[hill food]

oh yeah once in Puerto Rico I got a hideous burn and plucked some growing wild, peeled the outside and smeared it all over my aching parts. if it's that good outside, it's gotta be be good in.

[kpaxonite]

i drink aloe juice a lot...recently found one blended with pomegranate its really good

[beevod]

My nutritionist swears by the restorative benefits of aloe vera on a slice of challah

[tastesgoodwhatisit]

I've mainly seen it in drinks - try a Chinese grocery.