Nutritious Aronia
You may be growing a black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa, in your landscape for its spring flowers, fall color and black fruit. But did you know those berries are nutritious and edible?
Aronias are considered a superfruit high in antioxidants and Vitamins C and K. Black chokeberry is used in food coloring and tea as well as syrups, juice, jams and wine. But before you toss back a handful of fresh berries, beware they are full of tanins that make them astringent and your mouth pucker – thus the common name chokeberry.
When fully ripe, black chokeberries do have the same sugar content as table grapes and sweet cherries. Wait until any hint of red is gone and the berries are dark black to harvest. If you like dry wine, you will enjoy the flavor. If not, try them frozen, cooked, fermented or made into jam, smoothies and baked goods.
A bit more information: Don’t mistake chokeberries (Aronia) for the native tree chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). This tree can grow 20 to 30 feet tall and its bitter fruit is used to make jellies, jams, and pie.
Categories
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI
Register now
April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now
May 4, 2024
Garden U 2024
New Richmond, WI
Register now
May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now
May 11, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 12, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 18, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 1, 2024
Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Caring for Hydrangeas
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 5, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Under-Appreciated Pollinators
Register now
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More