I have never bitten into raw aloe vera although I hear it
is very bitter. A good site for aloe info:
http://www.aloe-vera.org/

The above site mentions that many aloe preparations
(cremes, gels) are mixed with other ingredients to a
point of being ineffective.

I drink aloe juice on a regular basis. The juice is tasty I
guess because  it is diluted -- not pure juice.

Margery Wilson, IBCLC