Last twelvemonth at this time , I shared about how I preparecranberriesfor my kinsperson ’s Thanksgiving table . I love cranberries , but they are n’t aboriginal to my area of the area . A few weeks ago , a trip to the grocery store started me thinking about a native berry that I love to learn about . When I sat down and look over my past posts , I was shocked to find out that I ’ve never shared about the aronia berry ( Aronia melanocarpa ) .
The aronia Chuck Berry is a “ glass tree ” here in Ohio . It grows in hedge and goes virtually unnoticed . It ’s often called shameful chokeberry . Our local aboriginal - works greenhouse , Scioto Gardens , sells them , and they ’re often used by landscape architect as ornamentals . In the spring , you ’ll see them deck with beautiful ashen flowers , which are then follow by dark , black berries . Finally , the shrub puts on a fall presentation of deep rust - colored leave that is not to be neglect .
It seems to be human nature to romanticize the produce from another part of the world , favor them over edibles that are close at deal . Most of the things we love eating during the holidays are not aboriginal to our area . There is nothing amiss with that per se , except we continually overlook the food we have literally in our own backyard . Many multitude devote steep amount of money for superfoods and juices , all while not knowing that they can easily grow their own .
Aronia Chuck Berry has three to four time the antioxidant cognitive content of blueberry bush , goji or pomegranate . It ’s currently being studied for its beneficial effect on the cardiovascular arrangement ( blood press , cholesterin grade , fondness plan of attack bar and recovery),the digestive system , the urinary tract ( even serious for UTIs than cranberry ) and even cancer . Specifically , it is being examine against tit and Costa Rican colon cancer . In laboratory environments , it ’s been shown to pop colon cancer cells with no wrong to fence in tissue paper . Very exciting stuff !
Aronia berry , aka chokeberry , is eminent in pectin . The first settler add it to other fruits for anatural arrange for jams and jellies . It ’s not probable that the chokeberry was at the first Thanksgiving , but that should n’t stop you from using it if it ’s aboriginal to your area . Aronia grow very well in Midwestern soils . It ’s a medium - sized shrub that lean to circularise in clusters . The fruit is quick to pick in the fall , and it ’s a real battle to get it before the birds do , so you might view wrap up it with netting . It likes full sun and will execute very well class after yr with very little input from you , the agriculturalist .
Last week , as I was inspect some juice on sale , I come across a bottle of aronia juice . There are a few farms here in the U.S. lead off to bring this Chuck Berry into Commerce Department . You ’ll see it in jellies , juice and some babe intellectual nourishment blend . In Europe , it ’s ordinarily find at the grocery , but here it was a moment jarring to me . I was excited to see it becoming more available , as we can all gain from it .
Include the Chuck Berry on your Thanksgiving table by tote up a new succus selection , adding the dry berry to your cranberry sauce , or even create an aronia berry bread or muffin for the next day ’s breakfast . Next year , perhaps you ’ll originate your own and easily add a supercharge of health that everyone at the tabular array can be grateful for .
