ARONIA – BLACK CHOKEBERRY TREE
Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott
Rosaceae
The black chokeberry, or Aronia, is a North American fruit-bearing plant. It is known for its dark berries, which are rich in antioxidants and beneficial properties. Aronia is considered a superfood, and it is appreciated for both fresh consumption and transformation into juices, jams and vitamin supplements.
This is not a particularly ancient fruit, but it has gained our attention due to its exceptional properties and its scarcity.
📍 Origine e Storia
🌎The aronia comes from the moist and fresh areas of North America, and it was already used by Native American tribes both as food and as a medicinal remedy.
🛤️ In the 19th century, this plant was introduced in Europe, where it found a favourable environment especially in Eastern countries, such as Poland and Russia.
🏛️ During the 20th century, its cultivation spread due to the exceptional nutritional properties of its berries. As a result, it has been renamed “the longevity fruit.”
📜 Interesting Facts and Culture
🛡️This is a natural superfood: aronia has one of the highest antioxidant contents in the vegetal world, even more than blueberries and goji berries.
💖Well-being benefits: thanks to its high content of polyphenols and vitamin C, the black chokeberry strengthens the health system, it fights against oxidative stress and it promotes blood circulation.
🍷Juice and liqueur production: in Poland and Russia, chokeberries are used to prepare juices, jams, teas, and liqueurs, with an intense and spicy taste.
🍁Ornamental plant: in addition to its beneficial fruits, the aronia is appreciated for its breath-taking autumn foliage, with its red-orange nuances.
📖 A forgotten fruit: in the past, it was widely used in traditional remedies to cure fever and infections. Today, it is making a comeback as a healthy fruit.
🏡BACK TO THE PRESENT
🔹 Today, the aronia is becoming increasingly more popular in organic agriculture because of its resistance to parasites and diseases.
🔹 It is cultivated in Europe, especially in Germany, Poland, and northern Italy.
🔹 It is ideal when dried, for juices, or as an ingredient in infusions and desserts.
🫐This small fruit is a great ally for your health! 💙
These contents were written and researched by the owners of the SiGi Agricultural Company in collaboration with the students of the Agricultural Technical Institute of Macerata.
If you would like to contribute to expanding the descriptions of these varieties, you can send an e-mail to info@agricolasigi.it
We launched the e-museum of ancient fruits thanks to a social farming project of the Marche region. The translation is by komalingua
This project enabled five young people with cognitive impairments, aged 20 to 25, to work on the farm. They were selected by psychologists and Anffas social workers, supported by the professional educator Il Faro and supervised by UniMc researchers. Coldiretti Marche handled communication and distribution.
This unique and challenging project led to the creation of both a physical and virtual museum of ancient fruits in SiGi’s garden. This is not only a great honor but also a significant commitment that we are willing to continue with everyone’s support. You can contribute to our projects by choosing our products, or you can do so directly here:
