Products
Aronia berries, aronia juice, aronia tea, capsules and other products are available in pharmacies and drugstores, among others. Aronia is counted among the so-called superfoods.
Stem plant
The chokeberry bushes (black berries, black chokeberry) and (red berries, felty chokeberry) from the rose family originally come from North America. They also reached Europe in the 20th century. For the commercial products is mainly of importance. A third species is , a hybrid of the black and red chokeberries. The plant is relatively undemanding, is resistant to pests and hardy.
Medicinal drug
The black chokeberry berries (Aroniae fructus, chokeberries) are used as medicinal straw. The fresh berries have a sour, tart and astringent taste and smell like bitter almonds.
Ingredients
The main ingredients include:
- Polyphenols: Anthocyanins, procyanidins, flavonols.
- Organic acids
- Tannins: tannins, chlorogenic acid
- Sugars: glucose, fructose, sorbitol
- Dietary fiber, pectin
- Vitamins, minerals
- Little fat and protein
- Cyanogenic glycosides: amygdalin (does not enter the juice).
Effects
Aronia berries and preparations made from them are considered to have health benefits. Scientific studies with chokeberry have found astringent, antioxidant, antimutagenic, heptaoprotective, lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardioprotective and antihypertensive properties, among others.
Indications for use
- As a dietary supplement or food in the context of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- For the treatment of diseases (no official indications).
- For the preparation of jams and syrups, due to the high pectin content.
- As a food coloring and flavoring.
- For the preparation of tea.
- For spirits and wines.