Aronia berries, also called black chokeberries, are violet-black fruits of Aronia melanocarpa prized for their exceptionally high anthocyanin content, together with folic acid and minerals. Intensely astringent and tart when fresh because of their tannins, they are rarely eaten raw and are instead processed into juices, often blended to soften the flavour, and into natural food colorants. Manufacturers also use aronia to add colour and flavour to beverages, dairy products, confectionery, and snacks. Their dense polyphenol load has made them a popular functional ingredient marketed for antioxidant properties, though responsible producers keep health claims within what the evidence supports and what food law allows.