[AlaninCarlisle]

I', sure this came up a few years ago but I can neither find the original post nor the suggested answers:
I'm sure I'm not alone when harvesting rhubarb in that as well as removing the leaves, I cut off the pale end where the stalk joins the crown. In my case I'm just following the way my dad and his dad before him prepared it. Is there a logical reason for this? Does the crown end of the stalk contain poison, or does it taste differently to the rest of the stem?

[mumofstig]

I also cut of the part nearest the crown because it seems more fibrous.

[Hampshire Hog]

I do this too but as much to do with making approximately equal sections of stalk for cooking. To my mind leaving the pale end on would result in uneven portions. Hadn't really thought about the rationale just do it automatically.

Cheers HH