Aronia prunifolia, aronia melanocarpa, and aronia arbutifolia are all types of aronia berry plants, also known as chokeberries. Aronia prunifolia is the purple chokeberry, which is most rare. Aronia arbutifolia is the red chokeberry, which is the most sweet. (Almost sweet enough to eat streight.) and Aronia melanocarpa is the black chokeberry, which is the most special of all, for it’s immense health benefits. Often grown in many gardens because of its pleasing appearance, these shrubs are part of the Rosaceae family, native to and common throughout North America.
The bitter taste of the juices from these berries is the reason it was named ‘chokeberry.’ Despite this, it has been used in many different countries throughout Europe for the making of wines, jams, flavoring beverages, and yogurts. Here in the US, we have only been using it (until recently) for dyeing clothes!
Containing such phytonutrients as peonidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, delphinidin, quercetin, caffeic acid, epacatechin, cynadie3-glactoside, and anthocyanin, this berry is not only high in flavanoids, but also very high in antioxidants. Studies have shown that the antioxidants properties of this berry have been extremely helpful in the prevention of liver failure, eye inflammation, peptic ulcers, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer and other oxidative stress related conditions.
It may be hard to believe, but even the United States department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed off on the wonders of aronia berries. In a 2007 report they published, comparing 277 common foods found in North America, they chose Black Chokeberries as the food source that has the very highest ORAC score of all! This basically means that there is no other food known to man with as high a level of antioxidants, at least not that grows in North America.
The chokeberry was used for health and medicinal purposes as far back as the Native American Indians and early settlers. Since then there have been many claims by other fruits that they are the healthiest. So sadly, the chokeberry became less and less popular as these other fruits gained their popularity. Now that people are eating healthier, and science has evolved enough to allow proper testing, the chokeberry is becoming more common and has reclaimed it’s throne again.
Not only does the aronia berry have a very high level of antioxidants, it is also very rich in several other vitamins, including vitamin c, vitamin e, vitamin b2, vitamin b6 and folic acid. If you research this berry you find there are several lists of positive factors relating to this berry, including but not limited to the quantity of antioxidants, prevention of heart and cardiovascular problems, and its anti-inflammatory properties. It is also been shown to help with urinary tract health, fights bacteria and virus, aids in digestion, helps with good cholesterol, helps control blood pressure and provides essential oils for your body.
The chokeberry has been used for flavoring wines in Poland, Russia and all of Eastern Europe for centuries now, which is interesting because the plant is native to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States! It has only been used in the flavoring of desserts, beverages and wines in the US as far back as the early settlers, but is now starting to be sold in fresh form in the fruit and vegetable aisle of a few organic grocers. Since the ‘berry’ diet craze that started several years ago, it fits right in with all the other berries being used for boosting metabolism and losing weight.