Aronia (Black Chokeberry)

What Is Aronia (Black Chokeberry)?

Aronia is the small, dark purple-black fruit of a shrub native to eastern North America. In Turkish it is also called "black cranberry," but it is not botanically related to true cranberry.

The fruit contains very high tannins, leaving a distinct dry-astringent sensation in the mouth when eaten raw; for this reason it is almost never eaten fresh, and is usually juiced, dried, or made into powdered extract.

Nutritional Values of Aronia

100 grams of fresh aronia contains approximately 47 kcal of energy; it is very high in anthocyanins (antioxidant pigment) and high in fiber. Values vary by processing method and are approximate.

How Should Aronia Be Consumed?

Aronia is consumed in moderate amounts, usually as juice, dried fruit, or powdered extract, as part of a balanced diet.

This information is general; aronia is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Aronia?

Fresh aronia has a dark purple-black color, a firm-plump texture, and no bruises or mold marks on the surface. The dried form should retain intact berries.

• The color should be dark purple-black and uniform
• The texture should be firm-plump, not crushed-watery
• In the dried form the berries should be intact, not overly shriveled-powdery

How Is Aronia Stored?

Fresh aronia can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days and in the freezer for months; the dried or powdered form lasts a long time in a sealed container at room temperature.

Using Aronia in the Kitchen

Aronia is used most often in fruit juice blends, smoothies, jams-marmalades, and dried in granola/muesli mixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is aronia usually sold in blends?

On its own it is very intensely astringent-sour, so it is usually blended with sweeter fruit juices like apple or grape juice to make it palatable.

Are aronia and black mulberry the same thing?

No; they belong to different plant families, though both being dark-colored and intensely flavored fruits, they can sometimes be used interchangeably.

Is aronia available in Turkey?

Fresh fruit is rarely found; the dried or powdered extract form can be found through supplement food and gourmet market channels.