The aronia berry, also known in this country as the chokeberry due to its botanical affiliation, contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. It is one of the most vitamin-rich types of fruit, and at the same time the plant is easy to care for and also produces high yields. However, many people believe that the power berry is poisonous when raw due to its high hydrogen cyanide content. Is that correct? We looked into the question once.
Are aronia berries poisonous?
Are aronia berries poisonous? No, aronia berries only contain small amounts of hydrogen cyanide (0.6-1.2 mg per 100 g) and are therefore not poisonous. In small quantities, raw berries are safe and even have many he alth benefits due to their high content of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Aronia berries contain only a little hydrogen cyanide
A few years ago there was a report in the press pointing out the prussic acid content of aronia berries. Apparently this is so high in fresh fruits that eating raw berries is not recommended. This message was, among other things, However, it was quickly corrected by the University of Potsdam and the Max Rubner Institute - both of which were involved in a multi-year research project on the subject of aronia. As a result, 100 grams of fresh aronia berries only contain 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams of hydrogen cyanide - and therefore much less than other types of fruit and vegetables. For comparison: the same amount of sweet apricot kernels contains twice the amount of hydrogen cyanide. As a result, small amounts of berries eaten raw are not poisonous and therefore harmless.
He alth benefits outweigh
Instead, the chokeberry scores with a number of he alth benefits because it contains a lot of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and antioxidants. Of course, these valuable ingredients are mainly found in fresh, raw berries and are largely destroyed by heating and other forms of processing. But not everyone likes to snack on the rather tart-tasting berries fresh from the bush.
How you can gently process aronia berries
You can benefit from the he alth benefits of the berry in a variety of ways. This also includes further processing of the berries that protects vitamins and minerals, for example by
- Drying,
- Freezing
- or juicing.
Aronia berries harmonize perfectly in taste, especially with sweet fruits such as apples or pears.
Tips & Tricks
Start your day with a delicious and he althy aronia smoothie: Mix 1 banana, 1 apple, 1 pear, 1 carrot (all peeled and chopped) with 100 grams of fresh aronia berries and puree fruit and fill it up with 200 milliliters of orange juice and 200 milliliters of water. Bon appetit.
