- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- DessertSweet Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every January 23
- Holiday emoji:
- 🥧
National Rhubarb Pie Day arrives every January 23, celebrating the beloved dessert often dubbed the ‘pie plant.’ This day coincides with National Pie Day, making it a perfect occasion to indulge in a slice. Explore new recipes, visit a local bakery, or bake your own tart and sweet masterpiece to join the delicious festivities.
Want to sponsor National Rhubarb Pie Day? Learn how
Expected National Rhubarb Pie Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that bakeries and grocery stores often feature special offers for National Rhubarb Pie Day. Expect local eateries like Grand Traverse Pie Company or Village Inn to highlight rhubarb-based desserts. Major grocery chains such as Kroger and Whole Foods Market may offer discounts on rhubarb, pie crusts, or ready-made pies. Keep an eye on specialty food retailers like Harry & David for gourmet pie options. Even kitchenware brands like Pyrex might run promotions on pie dishes. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 23 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Rhubarb Pie Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalRhubarbPieDay. Film a quick recipe tutorial, a taste test, or a ‘pie plant’ harvesting video.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #RhubarbPieDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your homemade rhubarb pie or a visit to your favorite bakery.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalRhubarbPieDay. Share your family’s favorite rhubarb pie recipe or a memory of enjoying it.
National Rhubarb Pie Day Hero
Eleanor Roosevelt
History of National Rhubarb Pie Day
Rhubarb is the name of the fleshy stalks of plants from the Rheum genus. While no one knows the specific origin of the plant, we know that it was popular in Europe before the 18th century, when it was used largely for medicinal purposes. There are also some traces of it dating back to at least 2700 B.C. in China, Tibet, Mongolia, and the surrounding regions.
Rhubarb is one of those tricky plants whose identity as a vegetable or fruit is controversial. Botanically, it is a vegetable, but in culinary circles, it is used as a fruit. In 1947 though, a New York court officially ruled it as a fruit since that was what Americans primarily used it as. Businesses that imported rhubarb celebrated this declaration because they paid less tax if rhubarb was considered a fruit rather than a vegetable.
In 1772, Benjamin Franklin sent rhubarb seeds from Scotland to John Bartram, a friend of his who was a botanist in Pennsylvania. Rhubarb became even more popular in 1837 when a sweeter variety called Victoria rhubarb was introduced. However, because rhubarb needed a lot of sugar to offset its tartness, it didn’t spread as much until sugar prices started dropping.
We don’t know who exactly came up with the brilliant idea to make pies out of rhubarbs, but we are eternally thankful to them. Today, rhubarb pies are a traditional dessert in the U.S. In the words of John Cleese in the ‘Rhubarb Tart Song,’ “I want another slice of rhubarb tart. I want another lovely slice. I’m not disparaging the blueberry pie. But rhubarb tart is oh so very nice. A rhubarb what? A rhubarb tart! A whatbarb tart? A rhubarb tart!”
National Rhubarb Pie Day timeline
Benjamin Franklin bestowed the U.S. with rhubarb when he sends some seeds to a botanist friend.
In her 1844 book, foremost writer, Child, calls rhubarb pies ‘dear pies’ because of the enormous quantity of sugar the recipe requires.
To solve some taxing issues, a New York Court solves the fruit-vegetable controversy around rhubarb by declaring it a fruit.
Cleese and The 1948 Show Choir sing their whimsical rhubarb tart song, which praises rhubarb pie and relates it to historical events and people.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day
Local bakeries and restaurants can celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day by offering special rhubarb pie slices or whole pies, perhaps with unique flavor twists like strawberry-rhubarb or ginger-rhubarb. Grocery stores could create displays featuring fresh rhubarb, pie ingredients, and baking tools. Food bloggers and culinary schools might host online baking classes or share their best rhubarb pie recipes, engaging their communities with this tart and sweet treat.
National Rhubarb Pie Day FAQs
When is National Rhubarb Pie Day?
In 2027, National Rhubarb Pie Day is observed on Saturday, January 23. This weekend timing makes it an ideal day for home bakers to whip up a fresh pie.
Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable?
Despite its botanical classification as a vegetable, rhubarb is almost exclusively used in sweet dishes, leading to its common perception and legal classification as a fruit in the United States. Its tart stalks are a versatile ingredient.
Why is rhubarb called the 'pie plant'?
The moniker ‘pie plant’ for rhubarb highlights its primary culinary application. Its distinctive sour flavor makes it a perfect counterpoint in sweet baked goods, creating a balanced and beloved dessert experience for many.
Can you eat rhubarb leaves?
It is crucial to only eat the stalks of the rhubarb plant. The leaves contain dangerous compounds like oxalic acid and are poisonous, so they should be trimmed off and discarded before cooking.
How to Celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day
Make some rhubarb pie
Even if you’re not a master chef, you can celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day by trying your hand in the kitchen. Pick any rhubarb pie recipe off the internet and get baking. Sweat it out and the kitchen, and then reward yourself with a taste of your very own rhubarb pie.
Have rhubarb pie whenever you want
Who says rhubarb has to be a dessert? Celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day by eating rhubarb pie whenever you want. Have rhubarb pie for breakfast. Have it for dinner. Take it as a midday snack if you want.
Sing the “Rhubarb Tart Song”
The catchy tune is sure to put a smile on your face and some hunger for rhubarb in your stomach. It’s the perfect family fun to have before digging into your rhubarb pie dessert.
5 Facts About Rhubarb
A redder stalk means a sweeter flavor
Even though rhubarb is generally bitter, when its stalks are red, it has a sweeter taste.
It can mean an argument
Although it’s rarely used in modern lingo, rhubarb can mean a heated argument or dispute, especially in New York baseball circles.
Romans thought it was barbaric
The Romans called anyone who ate rhubarb a barbarian.
No rhubarb leaves in your pie
The leaves attached to the rhubarb stalk are very poisonous, so if you plant your rhubarb yourself, make sure to cut off all the leaves.
It’s great in wine
In 1896, S.P. Merman won first prize at the Douglas County Fair for his rhubarb wine, and in 1901, the Omaha Daily Bee proclaimed that rhubarb makes the most delicious wine.
Why We Love National Rhubarb Pie Day
It’s family fun
What can be more fun for the family than sharing a nice, tasty plate of rhubarb pie fresh from the oven? You can even take the fun a step further by baking your pie together as a family.
The world needs a little tarty sweetness
One of the things that makes rhubarb pie so amazing is its mix of sharp tart and delicious sweetness. But somehow, that mixture forms a wonderful tangy balance that we didn’t know was possible. Maybe the world needs a little sweetness, a little tart — and then, we can find the delicious balance that is rhubarb pie.
It’s a chance to stuff our faces
We don’t need an excuse to stuff our faces, but having one sure doesn’t hurt. On National Rhubarb Pie Day, we get to stuff our faces with all the delicious rhubarb pie we can get our hands on, and our taste buds thank us for it.
National Rhubarb Pie Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | January 23 | Saturday |
| 2028 | January 23 | Sunday |
| 2029 | January 23 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | January 23 | Wednesday |
| 2031 | January 23 | Thursday |
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