Aronia Berry...Probably 'The Healthiest Fruit in the World!'
The lesser known Aronia berry is another antioxidant powerhouse!
It is also known by the name of Black Chokeberry. Very popular in Eastern Europe, however it is actually native to the Americas where early settlers gave it the name 'chokeberry' because it is so sharp when eaten raw. In fact American Indians believed it was a good aphrodisiac.
It is a close cousin of the
blueberry.
Now, it's colour has attracted scientific interest as it is
deep purple...
almost black..in colour. What does that tell us? Yes, you've guessed right, it's very
high in antioxidants
and
vitamin C.
Very high!
In fact
check it's score in the ORAC table
(the oxygen radical absorbance capacity) which is a test tube measurement of antioxidant strength. A 100 gram serving delivers a whopping 16062 antioxidant capacity per serving size. It is one of the highest values yet recorded putting it way ahead of
blueberries,cranberries
and even
pomegranates.
It can be likened to a cross between a
blackberry
and blueberry in taste, however it is quite tart and strong tasting. The natural juice is therefore best sweetened.
Ok, very dark colour, the richest fruit source of anthocyanins and other antioxidants, it's got to be good for us, right? You bet!
Several studies have shown aronia to help with the following
Chokeberry may be beneficial as a dietary preventative for reducing the risk of diseases caused by
oxidative stress.
Chokeberries in recent studies have been shown to be beneficial in instances of colorectal cancer. Also if you suffer from chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, eye inflammation or stomach peptic ulcers then these berries have been shown to help too.
There are many aronia berry recipes available and also the berries are excellent in jams, jellies, pies, yogurt and is ideal for sauces in summer puddings or on cheesecakes,
or blended into juices and smoothies.
Aronia-berries, a super-food packed with great anti-cancer antioxidants...every home should not be without some.
UPDATE In the UK there is a six-year plan put in place by Marks & Spencer retail outlets to cultivate the berries in Scotland. Why Scotland? Because it needs damp, mild conditions in which to grow, making it an ideal crop for parts of Scotland.
