FoodChokeberry preserves: A nutritious way to savor the season's bounty

Chokeberry preserves: A nutritious way to savor the season's bounty

Aronia juice for winter
Aronia juice for winter
Images source: © Adobe Stock | Ban Oršolić

31 July 2024 14:54

The season for chokeberry preserves is about to begin. Juices and liqueurs made from these fruits are delicious and healthy, so they have many enthusiasts. However, not everyone knows that before the fruits are placed in sugar, they must be properly prepared. This will ensure that the preserves will not be bitter.

Black chokeberry, is very healthy. The fruits contain many valuable nutrients and are an excellent material for various preserves.

Rich composition of chokeberry

These inconspicuous fruits are a source of vitamin C, which boosts immunity, and vitamin B group, which are essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. In addition to vitamins, Chokeberry also contains a large number of minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Interestingly, chokeberry is one of the richest sources of antioxidants among fruits. Antioxidants (such as anthocyanins) help fight free radicals, reducing the risk of many diseases, including cancer. Due to its antioxidant properties, chokeberry also contributes to delaying the aging process of cells.

How to enrich your diet with chokeberry?

The easiest way is to drink juice from these fruits, which can be easily prepared at home. Chokeberry is also suitable for jams or liqueurs. However, their preparation involves a certain problem because chokeberry fruits are tart. Fortunately, there is a simple way to eliminate this unpleasant taste. Just freeze the fruits for a few hours before processing. This will remove the tartness and make the prepared preserves much more delicious. Their preparation is very simple.

Juice or liqueur?

  1. Transfer the frozen fruits to a pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and leave everything covered for 24 hours.
  2. Then, strain the chokeberry through cheesecloth over a sieve. Add sugar to the resulting juice (500 grams of sugar for the same amount of chokeberry) and boil again.
  3. When the sugar dissolves, you can pour the juice into bottles. If you are dreaming of a liqueur, this is the moment when you need to add alcohol.
It’s worth freezing aronia before further processing.
It’s worth freezing aronia before further processing.© Adobe Stock | Alicja Neumiler
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