Unripe Aronia berries, also known as chokeberries, are hardly suitable for eating. They really must be fully developed! But even at the beginning of the typical harvest season, inedible specimens can end up in the basket. There is simply no way around the maturity test. Do it!
How do you carry out an Aronia ripeness test?
The aronia ripeness test, also known as the knife test, is carried out around mid-August. Pick a few berries from different umbrella umbels, cut them in the middle and check whether the flesh is completely dark red. Only ripe berries should be processed further.
How is the maturity test done?
The ripeness test is also known as the knife test. This name indicates that you need a knife, preferably a sharp one.
- pick a few aronia berries
- each with different umbels
- cut in the middle with the knife
- look at the pulp
- it should be completely dark red
- the color should be close to the color of the shell
When is it approximately time for the maturity test?
The ripeness test is donearound the middle of August, when the harvest time is usually expected. Black outer shell and reddish stem are signs of ripeness, but not a sure sign. It may be that due to the weather, the pulp has not yet been able to develop its full sweetness. This is all that matters for further processing.
Can I do the ripeness test with a taste test?
The taste test is for laypeopletoo uncertain Hardly anyone, apart from a few experts who grow this rose plant professionally, can determine that the maximum possible ripeness has been reached with a taste test alone. The taste of the ripe berries is still quite sour and tart. The danger is too great to harvest the aronia bush too early.
Do I have to harvest the berries immediately after a successful ripeness test?
No The berries can stay on the bush until the first frost. This means they neither become overripe nor unusable. This is actually beneficial because frost makes them milder and sweeter. Incidentally, the shrivelling of the berries does not mean a loss of quality. However, such a late harvest is not necessary for a sweet harvest. Berries picked right after the ripeness test will be sweeter if you freeze or dry them at home.
Can chokeberries actually ripen?
No. Separation from the bush finally interrupts the ripening process. Aronia berries have not been able to ripen under any storage conditions that have been tried so far. That's why no owner should miss out on the maturity test.
Tip
There is more ripeness reliability with a refractometer
Would you like to be absolutely sure when the optimal harvest time for your aronia has come? Then determine the sugar content of the berries with a refractometer (€24.00 on Amazon). Cheap devices are available to buy in stores and are easy to use. The sugar content should be between 18 and 21 Brix.
