Aronia Berries Anyone?

chimboodle04

So we purchased an Aronia berry bush last year to add to the diversity of what we grow, and it has produced fabulously this year! Does anyone else grow these berries? What do you do with them? Since they are so high in antioxidants, I wanted to try and make a tincture out of some and then infuse others in a honey syrup (kind of like you would make an elderberry syrup, but replace them with the Aronia berries). I am only just starting with herbal and home medicine (I've made things with plantain and dandelions, and am currently working on calendula and chamomile), so any advice, tips, or thoughts would be appreciated! :)

DeeperEating

I only just heard about aronia berries in the last year and haven't grown any, but I am very interested to see what people suggest for you. We're working on a revamp of our garden for next year and I'd love to make room for some. They look like a beautiful and useful plant!

seeker.nancy - Central Texas

Okay I totally have to look them up...I've never heard of them before lol.

seeker.nancy - Central Texas

So wow, even cancer fighting https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320610.php

I found tons of stuff on Google. Guess I'm going to have to crawl out from under my rock more often!

CynthiaGraves

I have never heard of the aronia berries either but was very interested to know that they are also called chokeberries which I've heard about a lot. Thanks for the tip - I will be planting some of these next year too

chimboodle04

For anyone who wants to plant one, mine really had a showstopper flower display in spring, so plant it somewhere you will enjoy it! :) Also, a few passing deer did give it a try (though they didn't eat most of it) - just an FYI ... :)

MaxFax

I understand the aronia berriy is also called chokeberry. They are edible and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as pies and cakes. They are sour. The black variety is not as sour as the red variety. When I was growing up we had an abundance of them growing down by the creek. We commoonly called them chokecherry.

LaurieLovesLearning

Chokecherry & chokeberry are different plants within the same family. Chokeberries are said to be more tart than chokecherries and they stay red throughout their development unlike chokecherries, which turn black. Keeping this in mind, there are both black & red varieties of chokeberry. The chokecherry has one pit, the chokeberry contains multiple seeds.

More reading below. All have good information. The last one has extensive information about Aronia.

http://aroniainamerica.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-it-chokeberry-or-chokecherry.html?m=1

https://communityenvironment.unl.edu/chokeberry

https://ouroneacrefarm.com/2014/09/05/foraging-aronia-berries/#comment-56359

http://www.raysahelian.com/aronia.html

http://www.hortconsulting.com/Links.html

chimboodle04

Laurie - good to know! The one I have is definitely a chokeberry (Aronia), but a black variety. Up until now, I had thought the two were interchangeable as well (berry and cherry), so this helps as I am looking up recipes, etc :) Thanks!

ines871

Our friend Paul has an Aronia/black chokeberry. When I tasted it off his 6 ft. bush it was quite tart; so when he makes pies for our WCFS Thanksgiving meals, he has to add all kinds of nutritional sweeteners like honey, etc.