Aronia berry history and origin

A little-known berry with great antioxidant power, a unique fruit treasure, recently propelled to the top of superfoods.

Aronia, also known as black chokeberry, aronia Melanocarpa, aronie, and chokeberry. It belongs to the rose family and grows on a shrub.

This small berry is native to Eastern North America, specifically Quebec, Canada.

Aronia berries have been consumed for a long time by Indigenous peoples, for food and medicine, who called it "the healing plant."

In the early 19th century, Russian botanist Y. Michurin, fascinated by its exceptional nutritional composition, introduced aronia cultivation to Eastern Europe, with Poland becoming the leader.

1. Advantage of Quebec's climate: to protect itself from temperatures down to -35 degrees Celsius, the hardy aronia shrub develops a large amount of substances with strong antioxidant power, generating super berries exceptionally rich in nutrients and concentrated antioxidants.
2. Cultivated without pesticides, the shrub is resistant to pests, diseases, and harmful insects, meaning these berries do not accumulate heavy metals.
3. Responsible hand-picking.

Aronia at the top of superfoods

An impressive score shows the antioxidant power of aronia compared to other berries:Aronia pomace powder: 74200Dried Aronia: 47800Fresh Aronia: 16062Cranberries: 9584 Blackcurrants: 7960 Blueberries: 6552 Blackberries: 5347 Raspberries: 4882 Goji: 3290 Gala apple: 2828 Red grape: 1260Aronia thus contains one of the highest antioxidant levels measured to date for a small fruit! Aronia is hard to beat.Anthocyanin is a component of polyphenols responsible for the dark color of aronia berries. Per 100g:Aronia 2,147mgBlueberries contain only 705mgStrawberries just 35g.Nutritional values for 100g of fresh berries:Calories: 47 kcal (very low rate)

• Carbohydrates: 11 g
• Fiber: 5.6 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Lipids: 0.5 g
• Vitamin C: 35 mg
• Vitamin K: 20 µg
• Potassium: 250 mg
• Iron: 1.6 mg
• Manganese: 1.5 mg
• Copper: 0.3 mg *Expressed in micromoles of Trolox equivalent per 100g

 

Aronia: flavor and uses

Unlike other small fruits whose flavor is better appreciated fresh, fresh aronia berries have a high tannin content, which gives them an astringent and tart taste. However, processing them releases their natural sugars, resulting in a unique and delicious flavor, a subtle balance of sweet and tart.For pleasure, to enrich your diet, or simply to try something new, aronia berries are worth enjoying and consuming.They can be frozen, dried, powdered, in plant proteins, or in plant supplement capsules. Aronia is a versatile food that can be used in a multitude of ways:

1. Snacks: Dried aronia berries can be eaten alone or mixed with other dried fruits, nuts and seeds, or in energy balls, in soft bars for a healthy snack.
2. Smoothies: Mix aronia berries, aronia powder into your favorite smoothie recipe for an antioxidant boost.
3. Cereals: Add dried aronia berries to your cereals or powdered into your yogurts for a nutritious and delicious breakfast.
4. Sweet preparations: Add aronia berries to your favorite muffin, pastry, or ice cream recipe for a touch of color and flavor.
5. Savory preparations: Add aronia berries to your favorite bread, roast, or salad recipe to enhance your dishes.
6. Other preparations: Make syrups, jams, or jelly from them.
7. Drinks: Herbal teas, tea, cocktails, or coffee.

Aronia benefits

Aronia is a healthy and delicious small fruit that has everything to support your body. Let's discover its benefits together:

Exceptional antioxidant content: Aronia is gaining popularity due to its exceptional content of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins which are responsible for the dark burgundy color of the berry, tannins, the famous flavonoids which are compounds with antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties, and phenolic acids. Antioxidants are substances that help protect the body against cell damage caused by free radicals, produced by stress, pollution, and other environmental factors. They neutralize them by stabilizing them.

1. A cocktail of vitamins: Aronia berry is packed with vitamin C (3 times more than an orange), rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9 (folic acid), K, and E. It is an excellent immune system booster and gives your body more energy. Aronia is a good support for boosting your immune defenses during the winter period. Moreover, it contains considerable amounts of minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron.
2. Helps reduce body inflammation: Inflammation is a natural response of the body to infection. Studies have shown that flavonoid compounds present in aronia can reduce it.
3. A good digestive regulator: Aronia is rich in fiber and polyphenols. Its fiber content is due to the high presence of pectin, which is a type of soluble fiber found in several fruits like apples. Fiber is essential for maintaining the health of the digestive system as it stimulates digestion, helps regulate bowel movements, and prevents constipation, while polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the gut.
4. Supports weight loss: Aronia is a low-calorie fruit, with only 47 kcal/100g. Being richer in fiber than fat, it has the ability to prevent fat storage, especially in the abdominal area. It is an interesting slimming ally.
5. A draining effect for your body: Low in sugar and rich in fiber, aronia berries, fresh or dried, promote the elimination of toxins from your body.
6. Alkaline food: Alkaline, rich in alkalizing minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium, it helps restore the body's acid-base balance.
7. Helps achieve beautiful skin: Rich in flavonoids and anthocyanins, it protects the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays, slows down cellular aging, improves skin elasticity and density.
8. Phytoprotective: It improves visual acuity thanks to its anthocyanin content and protects your eyes from fatigue. Thus, it is very beneficial for people working long hours in front of a screen.
9. Boosts metabolism: Aronia helps maintain a good energy level and recover well after a workout.