Organic Aronia Capsules

Recommended use: Take 2 capsules daily with sufficient liquid with a meal.

Important notes: Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and lifestyle. The stated recommended daily intake must not be exceeded. Keep out of reach of small children.

Allergens: According to the raw material specification, it contains no allergens subject to mandatory labeling pursuant to Annex II of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011.

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place, do not freeze, and protect from direct sunlight.

Three Varieties and One Cultivar

The Aronia genus is small. Besides black chokeberry, there is downy chokeberry with red fruit and plum-leaved chokeberry, which sits between the two.

However, by far the largest share of European plantation produce goes back to a cultivar developed by Russian plant breeder Ivan Michurin at the beginning of the 20th century, in which rowan was probably also crossed in. From there, the plant made its way through Eastern Europe. Botanically, this cultivated form is sometimes classified as its own species.

Why it makes your mouth pucker

The fuzzy sensation when tasting is not flavor in the strict sense, but a tactile sensation. Tannins bind to the proteins in saliva, causing it to lose its lubricating properties, and the lining of the mouth feels rough.

Chemically, these tannins belong to the proanthocyanidins, the same group known from grape seeds as OPC. Frost, storage, and processing soften the astringency, which is why Aronia tastes more approachable as juice or jam than fresh from the bush.

Colorants that react to pH

Anthocyanins change color depending on the acidity of their surroundings: red in acidic conditions, violet in neutral conditions, bluish to greenish in alkaline conditions. Anyone who has ever cooked red cabbage with a splash of vinegar has observed the effect, because the same type of pigment is at work there.

Aronia berries are among the fruits richest in anthocyanins, and you notice that when handling the powder: it reliably stains fingers, fabrics, and work surfaces. A good reason for the capsule.

From berry to powder

Harvesting is done mechanically in late summer, when the berries are deep black and dark red inside. They are then washed and gently dried, after which they are ground up with the skins and seeds.

Fresh aronia berries are made up of around three quarters water. When dried, roughly one quarter of the fresh weight remains, which means that a capsule with 500 mg of powder represents about two grams of fresh berries. Nothing is concentrated in the process: it is the whole fruit, just without water.