Aronia - highest-antioxidant berry
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Aronia - highest-antioxidant berry
Aronia is the name for a very dark berry, native to the Americas, but far more popular in Eastern Europe, where its juice is known to help people with heart conditions. When I lived in Poland, it was a fairly popular juice drink, and people commonly told me it was good for the health. I also heard it was far more popular in Russia.
I tried it for the first time in Poland, and the taste is extremely tart. The natural juice is best sweetened, because the juice itself, like cranberry juice, is just too strong-tasting. Sweetened, it tastes a bit like a cross between blackberry and blueberry, although probably not as fragrant as the latter. The juice has a very dark purple color.
Aronia health benefits
Aronia berries have the highest levels of natural antioxidants of any fruit.
More than even blueberries and the vaunted pomegranate, aronia berries are the richest fruit source of anthocyanins and other antioxidants. Several studies have shown aronia to help with:
Antioxidant rich
Aronia has an ORAC (oxygen radical absorptive capacity - a measure of an antioxidant's power to neutralize free radicals) value higher than any other food. This is due to the high concentration of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, both of which contribute to aronia's dark, almost black, color.
Available at Trader Joe's
I recently saw a 1-quart bottle of organic aronia juice (surprisingly unsweetened, so don't feel bashful about chilling it and sweetening it if it's a bit too tart for your liking), for $3.99 at our local Trader Joe's.
Aronia berry "cocktail" (since it was sweetened and diluted) used to be available at CostCo under the brand name Wildland, but they discontinued their product after 2 years due to heavy price competition from Ocean Spray.
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Thanks, wajay! I do know that some avocational horticulturalists like to grow aronia, known in gardens by its English name, chokeberry.
Wonder if its available in India. Is it the one that turns our tongues blue? I ate a plateful of that after reading an article about taking in all colours of food.
I've actually heard tonight on the John Tesh radio show that eating/drinking 100% natural (not from concentrate) fruits which are richer in color provides more nutrients than other fruit consumption.
Sounds good. Is it available commercially in the U.S.?
very good information...Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, everyone. William, yes you can buy it at Trader Joe's if you have one in your area. (www.traderjoes.com) Kenny, it will turn your tongue purple, but not as badly as blueberries. (Although it might be worse if you eat the raw berry, which I've never tried). And yes gamergirl, fresh fruit is usually best but in the case of anthocyanin-rich foods (blue & purple fruits, like dark berries), there doesn't seem to be much of a difference (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcg That's not the case when it comes to vitamin C, for example.
Thanks, livelonger, and now I'll have to find out whether it's blueberry or Aronia that I had a plateful of.
I usually take my fruits raw, and love having a blue tongue! Atleast, as kids we all did.
Where can I find aronia juice in Florida
Kay - if you're not near a Trader Joe's, then I'd try Whole Foods, Wild Oats, or your neighborhood health food store. They should at least be able to order it for you.
These are definately interesting facts. I will be consuming berries in significant quantities from now on.
As a subscriber, I read your hub when you first posted it and was pretty sure I had seen the berries growing where I've fished in Oregon. I contacted a friend and he confirmed my belief. I was pretty sure I was right, since I'd tried some once and they live up to their name. My friend has the property and we are contemplating a joint venture. We've worked together before. We never know where life will take us, most of the knowledge and adventure comes with hanging on and enjoying the ride. Thanks for the article.
Is chokeberry and chokecherry the same thing? Southern Idaho mountains have a lot of what I have known as chokecherry. I even got some chokecherry plants from the Home Economist office under the University of Idaho. The "cherries" make wonderful jelly and syrup and even wine.
Larry - good luck! That sounds exciting.
blubyrd - It looks like they're unrelated:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokecherry
Trader Joe's has discontinued carrying aronia juice - this was confirmed in an email reply to me on 2/21/08. But the writer did say, "However, we have forwarded your comments and a request to the Category Leader for reconsideration."
So I urge others who want it available and at a very good price - contact Trader Joe's by email, phone or in person.
Thank you, Kitty - I had noticed that I stopped seeing aronia juice on the shelves for a while. I thought they had just run out. I'll contact TJ's and beg them to reconsider.
I read this hub awhile ago and when I saw aronia juice the other day in my local supermarket, picked some up--very tasty--a bit pricy but really good--thanks for the tip LL :-) BTW I bought it either at Super-Fresh or Giant--can't remember which.
I'm glad you can get it! We don't have SuperFreshes or Giants here, and it appears TJ's doesn't carry it anymore.
never heard of it, but it sounds fantastic. I like blackberries and blueberries fresh, so it couldn't be bad on a bet. Doubt I can find locally though. :( I shall look, however.
Definitely has a unique flavor - a bit pungent. Another alternative that is nice but very, very richly flavored is blackcurrant juice (cassis in French); probably a bit easier to find. It apparently was banned in the US until very recently so we Yanks never really developed a taste for it like Europeans have.
europe gets all the good stuff :( also... canada. :hmm:
I used to have a favorite cheese you could buy at Hickory Farms (back in the day) called Mont Saint-Benoît that came from Canada. It got banned in the U.S. though and I couldn't get it anymore.
Agreed - don't know about Canada, but the Europeans definitely have better chocolate (but that's slowly changing), beer (also slowly changing) and all those hazelnut things. But we have peanut butter. :)
I wish you hadn't said that. :(
*cries*
I think if I drive to the "big city" an hour away, I might could find one or the other of your juices. I shall make a point of looking being as I have to do some grocery shopping anyway soon. Or be stuck eating... ahem... peanut butter. :(
I wish to add, Irish chocolate is the bomb. I had a friend visit from Dublin a few years ago and he brought me some and you are right, american chocolate does not compare.
"Stuck" eating peanut butter? To me, it's like a drug. The Europeans (except the Dutch, who eat it too) don't know what they're missing. :) Don't remember Irish chocolate but I'd imagine it's great; the Brits make terrific (milk) chocolate too.
I sent the following update message to Trader Joe's via their website (only contact available) today:
This is a follow-up to previous complaint about Trader Joe's no longer carrying aronia juice. I received response from an Amy who wrote, "We have discontinued our Aronia Juice due to slow sales and we have sold through all existing inventory....However, we have forwarded your comments and a request to the Category Leader for reconsideration." There is much discussion on the Internet about aronia (by those who know or have recently become informed) and where it can or cannot (now) be obtained - Trader Joe's was once hailed as a good source. My post 5 weeks ago informed this site that it was no longer - http://hubpages.com/hub/aronia A woman in So. Calif is sponsoring aronia berry plant giveaways just so those who want aronia juice and are willing to make their own can do so. This link goes to post she made a few days ago at the newsgroup sci.life-extension, also carried through Google Groups: http://tinyurl.com/yva9vd Her website directly: http://www.eatpurple.org/ I do hope that Trader Joe's management will review their previous marketing practices for their 100% aronia juice (no sugar added) during their process of considering whether to return it as a stock item. Please note that the Tempe store manage told me and my husband that stock of aronia juice in that store always sold very well and that he was surprised to learn that it was being discontinued.
------------------------------EOM--------------
If numerous other people will do likewise, it's possible that the Trader Joe's management can be persuaded to once again carry this extremely nutritious juice.
Also be aware that an aronia juice sold by Sophia Foods in Brooklyn contains added sugar which is not something one can currently tell by their website. We bought a case - only received 8 bottles out of 12 paid for due to poor packaging of shipment - and then found each 240 ml serving to contain 32 g of sugar vs 12 g for Trader Joe's. Citric acid is also added to this Sophia Foods aronia from Poland - it's really an aronia "drink", not a juice because of the added sugar.
Those able to obtain the aronia plants offered above may find the cultivation and juice production an enjoyable way to obtain the value of aronia.
Great article. Should drink some. I didn't like the taste the first time. But if it's that healthy I should try again.
I have some Aronia Berry bushes planted in my garden from the previous land-owner. They seem to thrive here in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for the clear photo of the berries in this article.
Thank's for all the above comments - they were helpful. But, I have a bush growing in my yard as an experiment and this is the first year it has produced berries and lots of them, but I only have one bush. Yes, they are tart, pungent but how does one know when they are really ready for use ?- sometimes I rely on the birds to tell me but I have a feeling they may not like them. Anyone have any experience with paring them up with other fruits like apples for use in pies or jams? Thanks
Kathy - Interesting question. I would imagine with plenty of sugar, or sugary fruits like apples, might make for a very delicious pie or jam. I would imagine they'd pair up similarly as blueberries, although they are far tarter.
Chokecherry and chokeberry are not the same things. Aronia/Chokeberry are not really enjoyable edible right off the shrub. TOO BAD, because they're so healthy for you and it's a very easy shrub to grow in my Idaho, zone 5 garden.
I wrote trader Joe's.They discontinued Aronia juice.In Feb 2008 they told me at the Palmdale store in Ca.So I bought 8 bottles they have in the store.I try every where & so far no luck.I urge others who wants Aronia 100% juice at good price please contact Trader Joe's by e mail,phone or in person.I also want you know this juice is number one cure for varicose veins.
We have two aronia berry plants in our front yard, by the sidewalk, no one takes any either because they don't know what they are or because the berries taste kinda' yuk. This year we have started making juice with them. How does one know when they are ripe? I live in Washington state near Seattle and the bushes take no care and produce large quantities of berries.
We are an organic family owned aronia berry farm located in Central Iowa. We are growing these berries commerically to provide true American grown organic Aronia Berry products to consumers. (No more dried from Germany or Poland)There are many ways to drink Aronia Berry juice without adding sugar. We recommend 8oz a day. Berries can be grown at home and harversted in Late Aug and September, frozen year round at home and made into a juice as needed. Each family member should have their own berry producing plant. This will create approx. 10-20 lbs per bush. Put berries in cookies, pancakes, scones, jelly, juice, wine etc..
I am a clinical RN studing the benefits of these Berries and the results are mind staggering and outstanding. The data is clear...these berries are the best antioxident fruit on the planet with no side effects.
We will have a harvest in September 09 so be watching the internet for our new website and information. We also will be selling fresh squeezed juice at our location on a daily basis starting in last Aug 09. So please come to Iowa! Thanks!
I'd like to add that ForestFarm has shockingly cheap Aronia plants available for sale here:
http://www.forestfarm.com/search/closeup.asp?Plant was VERY disheartened when Trader Joe's stopped carrying Aronia juice. Whole Foods DOES NOT carry it and in the midwest, CANNOT order it. I worked at a Whole Foods store and know this from personal experience. If anyone has found the juice anywhere, I'd love to hear about it. I personally can't order a bush, I've got no space for it. I'd love to find some actual juice at a reasonable price.
Ruby Kist brand has Pomegranate Blueberry 100% Juice Blend which includes Aronia. Great, healthful combination!
eureka: Is the aronia a significant portion of the juice content? I've seen quite a few drinks that add a little aronia for color, since it has an intensely purple color, but probably too little to lend color or healthful benefits.
Doesn't specify, but lists aronia concentrate before blueberry concentrate in ingredients.
It's January, 2009. Last night I found Pomegranate juice at Food Lion in Maryland. It was 100% juice, but a blend of Pomegranate, apple, and aronia juices. Very tasty. I just came to this site to find out what aronia juice was. My dictionaries didn't have the word in them. Is this some type of hybrid plant or is would I find it under chokeberry in the dictionary? It only cost 2.99 for 2 quarts of this juice.
to the central iowa grower, how do i contact you if i want to purchase some of y our 09 harvest? i do live in central iowa
Came across this site after researching the ingredients list in a store-brand 100% juice I bought. Cranberry-Pomegranite-Blueberry, so I was curious. Think I have some growing in my back yard.
If you have some room in the garden I highly recommend planting some Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry). They come in a compact form (3ft) to standard (5 to 6ft).
I've
ANYONE LOOKING FOR ARONIA BERRY BUSHES - I PURCHASED 5 LAST FALL AT LOWE'S FOR ONLY $10.00 EACH. LOOKING FORWARD TO MY HARVESTS.
My husband an I purchased 3 small Aronia berry bushes from Raintree Nursery in Morton, Washington about 4 years ago. They are now 5 feet tall and produce an abundant supply of dark purple berries. It's great because they all ripen at the same time. We harvest them all by hand, which is quite time consuming. I wash the berries and put them in a steamer on the stove top. Last year I canned 24 quarts of pure juice from our harvest. When I serve it as a breakfast juce, I put equal amounts of aronia and apple juice in our glass. Serving it that way adds a little needed sugar and makes it more drinkable. Aronia juice by itself has a rather dry, bitter taste, but the health benefits are enormous.
I recently purchased a bottle of 100% aronia juice< and I drink a glass every day. I already noticed a difference in my body and I feel much healthier.
had I aronia berry in Latvia could eat after first frost.now I live in uk when my aroni berry can be ready .try last year october phee wasnt ready at all? any answers?
I make homemade wine out of it. It's great!
I am a dissabled trucker with land in Fort Gibson, Ok. and have been planting many fruit trees and blueberry bushes along with thornless and thorned black berries and rasberries, and I would like to plant some Aronia Bushes but I have about deleted my funds to do this planting. I would like to see if anyone can tell me of a place where I could buy some realitively cheap plants. I am not sure but I am told I can get started with seeds but I don't know where to get the seeds either. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Just drink Monavie and you get the aronia and the acai, I love it and it is a good product that is keeping me and my friends healthy
My husband and I own a winery, Lake Effect Winery in Muskegon, MI. We have heard of the health benefits of the aronia melanocarpa, or chokeberry. We produce fruit and berry wine and have produced aronia-blueberry wine. We also do not add any sulfites to the wine and have decided to make it a semi-dry wine. We have been pleasantly surprised with the finished product. This wine, we have been told by other wine drinkers, reminds them of a cabernet.
My husband loves this wine and drinks a glass every day. He has lowered his cholesterol and triglycerides a tremendous amount. They are all now in the normal range. His doctor wanted him to go on a cholesterol lowering drug, but decided to wait and try this first. Well, last physical, his doctor was astonished by the amount his cholesterol and triglycerides were lowered. As any glass of red wine is good for you, as has been proven, why not drink a red wine made with fruit richer in anti-oxidants.
We have now opened up a tasting room in Grand Haven, MI where we hope to sell a lot of our fruit and berry wines. We have been selling wholesale only to retailers up until now. If you are in the area, please do come in for a free tasting. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Trade Joe's used to carry it, but has discontinuted it since early 2008. I have written them couples times for re-carrying it, but no good news yet. my mom and I tried it and for a year. it is very good benefit in terms of blood sugar stabilize for my mom.
If you want to find Aronia easily go to any Polish deli or if you are in the hinterlands and that's downright ridiculous, try a large chain supermarket and go into it's Eastern European section (like Wegman's). You will find it easily and it's equal, Black Currant juice, which will make you sing with joy. They are both superfoods, and really need to be included in the American, all-too-unhealthy diet! Sing their praises!!
wajay_47 says:
2 years ago
Very Informative hub, Livelonger. I wonder if the plants are easy to raise, since I don't have a green thumb. Nice hub, as usual.