Aronia berries are new-ish to the superfood scene and have been gaining popularity over the past couple of decades. You can’t find them in your local grocery store yet, but you’ve probably seen them used more often as an ingredient, health supplement, or syrup.
Aronia berries are getting attention because they have more antioxidants in them than blueberries, elderberries, cranberries, acai berries, and most fruit according to Iowa State University Extension.
They’re rich in a type of antioxidant called polyphenols. Researchers say these compounds may help protect against diseases like metabolic disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. That’s because they have a positive effect on blood pressure, glucose levels, and lipid profiles.
Also, clinical studies have demonstrated beneficial anti-inflammatory effects following six weeks of daily Aronia-berry juice consumption, according to the Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin.
There needs to be more research done to understand how the fruit could be best absorbed for maximum benefits, but overall the research shows there is a wide range of potential medicinal and therapeutic uses for Sronia berries.
What Do Aronia Berries Taste Like and Where Do They Grow?
Aronia berries are also known as black chokeberries because they have a tart, dry taste much like a wine grape. They can be eaten straight off the bush, but they might be too mouth-puckering for some people.
The berries are dark purple-black in color and grow on a deciduous shrub. You can find them here in the Northeast and across the U.S. in zones 3-8. European countries have been growing Aronia berries commercially for decades because they have been popular there longer than in the U.S.
The Aronia bush can get up to 6 feet tall, and the berries stay edible on the plant for up to 6 weeks during the mid to late-summer harvest time.
Even though many people find aronia berries to be too sour or bitter, their taste pleasantly transforms to become fruity when mixed with other foods or beverages. They’re also often used for the deep natural coloring they add.
How to Enjoy Aronia Berries
If you want to taste a fresh Aronia berry, you’ll most likely have to grow your own unless you can find a local farm or grower in your area that has them.
Aronia berry products are usually found in health food stores and online in the form of syrups, juice, tea, spreads, jellies, chews, powders, supplements, and dried or dehydrated berries. The berries are also added to ice cream, yogurt, and…wine!
At Snow Farm Vineyard, we source our Aronia berries from a grower in Franklin, Vermont, to use in our Rosé.
Two years ago, we experimented with letting the Aronia berries soak into the wine for a few weeks. We first noticed the color was beautiful and long-lasting, plus it added some complex flavors.
The result? The Aronia berry has made our Rosé one of our best-sellers since we introduced it! The Aronia berries were a perfect match with the Frontenac Gris and Baco Noir grapes we use in our Rosé.
“We like the color the Aronia berries give our wine and it also brought in some unique flavors,” said head winemaker Patrick Barrelet. “Usually our Rosé is very strawberry forward, but the Aronia gives it flavors of raspberry and blueberry…plus the strawberry makes it a richer type of Rosé.”
You might wonder if we put strawberries or other berries in our wine, but we don’t – the flavors all come from mixing the grapes with the Aronia berries in the fermentation process.
“Grapes ferment and you get a lot of aromas and flavors without actually adding anything other than grapes,” Patrick said.
Last year, we introduced our Rosé in May, and it sold out in September. Never fear; each year, our Rosé is available again in May!
“The Aronia brings in another dimension to our wine. It’s a really powerful berry both in its potential health benefits and its ability to make our Rosé unlike anything else you’ve tried,” Patrick said.
So, grab a bottle of Rosé and raise your glass to nature’s most powerful fruit!
A Rosé Cocktail Recipe
The Snow Farm Vineyard Rosé is on the dry side and has a lovely tart strawberry note. A great way to use the Rosé in a cocktail is with a Rosé Refresher.
Rosé Refresher Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 oz. vodka
1/4 oz. simple syrup
3 fresh basil leaves
2 or 3 fresh sliced strawberries
2 oz. chilled Rosé from Snow Farm Vineyard
Instructions:
Add vodka, simple syrup, and basil leaves to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously then pour this mixture into a glass with sliced strawberries and ice cubes. Pour the Rosé over the top and stir gently. Add an additional basil leaf on top of the drink as a garnish.
