Something's been juicing up the bottled beverage aisle. Since appearing on supermarket shelves, this drink has grabbed the interest of consumers who sampled it in the store -- enjoying its crisp flavor and the purported health benefits were an appealing hook.
It's Aronia Berry Juice Cocktail.A Row knee . . . uh?
It's a juice extracted from berries that contain twice the number of polyphenols found in cranberry juice cocktail (polyphenols are important for the correct structure and functioning of capillaries and blood vessels; they also help the circulatory system). And double the amount of anthocyanins are found in aronia than cranberry juice cocktail (anthocyanins help maintain a healthy heart and body).
New evidence published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 339, No. 15) suggests that juice containing anthocyanins also helps maintain a healthy urinary tract. And there's more . . . aronia berry juice is rich in anti-oxidants and fortified with 100 percent of the RDA of Vitamin C.
No doubt about it -- this "elixir" packs some potent properties.
Aronia (ah-row-nee-ah) berries are grown in the Masurian Lakelands region of Poland, without the use of chemical pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. Actually, the berry is indigenous to the Northeastern United States but has not been grown here since the turn of the century. The rage in Europe -- now available in America, is a "new" product made from the imported Aronia Berry and bottled in the United States.
Aronia is a berry unique unto itself -- a violet-red pea sized fruit which somewhat resembles a small blueberry. Because the flavor of 100 percent aronia berry juice is so robust and concentrated, it can only be enjoyed blended, like cranberry juice. Popular mixes of the concentrated aronia use raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, grape and cherry juices.
The taste? It's not a cranberry, so there's no bitter aftertaste. In samplings, the flavor of aronia berries has been described as similar to a cranberry with "blackberry undertones."
We conducted a tasting among staffers to determine whether or not we liked the juice. The drink judged well.
Sampled were Aronia Raspberry, Aronia Berry, and Vitamina 12, a "berry power juice containing grape, apple, pear, aronia berry, black currant, boysenberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cranberry and strawberry juices.
Pick up a plastic jug of aronia juice berry cocktail (the gallon container is almost too big to manage pouring without a spill.) The catchy label reads "A Real Cranberry Alternative." And the aronia story follows. . . .
"Aronia, a native American berry, botanically known as aronia melanocarpa, comes to America after a century of acclaim in Europe. It is a deliciously refreshing new taste sensation, uniquely tart and flavorful with a hardy robust tanginess and vibrant color.
WILDLAND comes with high marks for a healthy beverage, and it is 100 percent natural, fortified with 100 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin C in one 8-ounce glass. It is also rich in beneficial nutrients."
WILDLAND, the major producer of Aronia Berry Cocktail, ships their product regularly to local supermarkets.
Salt Lake stores offering Aronia Berry Juice are: Albertson's, Associated Foods, Ream's, Dan's, Macey's, Ridleys, Fleming, Food 4 Less, Harmons, IGA, Pauls, Fred Meyer, Smith's and PriceCostco.
We wondered if aronia berries -- sometimes called "chokeberries" were really chokecherries.
Customer service at Aronia Berry, Inc. explained that chokecherries are a different plant. . . .
"It (aronia berry) derives the name "chokeberry" from the extremely astringent taste that birds supposedly won't tolerate, but it can be quite a pleasant flavor with sweeteners. "
Indeed aronia berry juice cocktail is sweetened -- necessary to cultivate an appealing and non-bitter taste.
An 8-ounce serving of aronia juice cocktail contains 130 calories, 0 fat, 5mg sodium, 33g carbs, 0g protein and 32g sugar.
If you're expecting 100 percent juice, it's in the Vitamina 12 Berry Power Juice.
You can't always believe what you read or hear on television or the radio. So test those tastes, Bud!
Betcha a nip of aronia berry juice cocktail will make you a believer.
And finally, we shall dispel an amazing slandering rumor that floated onto our computer screen while researching this topic.
It was a message posted by 'Phatty' re: Aronia Berry Cocktail Juice.
"Yeah, I have heard that the aronia berry grows in Utah. . . . do you know what the Utah State flower is. . . .
A STOP SIGN!"
If you're wanting to pick aronia berries around here - you'll need a shopping cart.