What do you do with Aronia berries? That’s a common question we get when talking about our powerful anti-oxidant berries. So today we’ll talk a little bit about how to use Aronia berries.

Do you just eat Aronia Berries?

Most folks don’t like to just eat Aronia berries alone. Which as a grower, is one of the stumbling blocks. The berries alone have a dry, astringent flavor. We sometimes tell folks they’re similar to a green apple, very tart, not very sweet, but worth it.

Many people believe they are like blueberries and just try to eat them out of the fresh package or right off the bush. If you don’t include a lot of sugar in your diet, you’ll love them this way. Right off the bush is one of my favorite ways to eat them, but I have health issues and don’t use much sugar at all. Children love them before their tastebuds are accustomed to sugar.

When we harvest Aronia berries really effects the flavor of the berries. Berries begin to turn purple and appear to be “ripe” sometimes in July. BUT, they are nasty tasting then. It’s a sin to those of us growing high quality berries and dedicated to the future of the industry to see the berries available too soon. Folks taste one of those berries and never want to try them again.

Aronia berries are at their peak when the brix level of the berries register on a refractometer between 18-23. The higher the brix (a measurement of sugar content) the sweeter the berries. In central Iowa, we achieve optimum brix content in very late August or September, dependent upon the weather conditions.

If you have your own berries and no refractometer, we also look for the fully filled out dimples in the bottom of the berries. Sounds strange I know but when they are ready, the bottom fills out and isn’t just round.

Another way to check your own berries is to cut one open to visually look at the color. A fully ripe berry is all one color magenta inside, not dark around the little seeds and lighter pulp, fully magenta.

We use them all kinds of ways…

On our recipe page you will find some of our favorite ways to use Aronia. Right now in our house for example, we have the chocolate chip Aronia cookies. I also made treats for some friends and the girls using red raspberries, stuffing them with an Aronia berry and drizzling them with chocolate. Chocolate and Aronia is a great combination. The Strawberry-Aronia jam is a morning staple for bagels and toast. We have also juiced some and add an ounce or so to orange juice daily. (Pineapple juice is also fabulous) I added a handful of frozen berries to oatmeal this morning. They are great in pancakes!

This weekend I have a pork roast I plan to cook with Grandma’s Special Aronia Cayenne Sauce, a blend of Aronia, jalepenos, and peppers. It’ awesome! We always seem to have a partial block of cream cheese with the Special Sauce on it for Woody’s snacking.

Where can I get Aronia Berries?

You can always comment and we’ll fix you up if you’re not in Central Iowa. Locally, you can get them at Fairways in Carlisle, Indianola, Norwalk and Fleur Drive. Gateway Market has our frozen berries as well. If your store doesn’t carry them, ask them to contact us, we’d be happy to supply:)