What is Aronia?
Aronia is a deciduous shrub of the Rosaceae family, native to eastern North America that is found mainly in wet forests and swamps. The genus is usually considered to include 2 species or 3, one of which is also cultivated in Europe. A fourth type cultivated under the Aronia name is thought to be an endogenous hybrid, Sorbaronia mitschurinii. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and for food. The fruits can be eaten raw, but more often they are processed. Its taste is astringent. They can be used to make wine, jam, ice cream, tea, beer, syrup, juice, appetizers and infused spirits. Aronia fruit is quite sour and astringent with a bitter almond aroma if eaten raw, however with the right processing it can be used to make sweets, jams, jellies as well as juices, wine and liqueur. Finally, it is also used as a food additive.
Nutritional value
Aronia fruits are, like most berries, rich in antioxidant components, specifically in anthocyanins and procyanidins which are also the active components of blueberries and grape extract. Anthocyanins have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and cytoprotective effects, helping to address systemic inflammation associated with various chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Aronia has, in fact, the second highest content of anthocyanins compared to all berries (2 times the total phenolic content compared to blueberries, 4 times compared to blueberries and 10 times compared to strawberries).
- It helps in heart diseases
- Regulates blood pressure
- It has anti-inflammatory properties and fights viruses
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- It helps in the production of good cholesterol
- Protects the urinary tract
- It helps digestion and enhances memory
- It has beneficial effects on the liver and kidneys, as well as a beneficial effect against the pancreas
- It helps with the stress that is responsible for the birth of various diseases (ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer’s…)
- It has an anti-cancer effect due to the anthocyanins it contains
- Rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals