Smoothies are the easiest way to enjoy aronia. Its tartness disappears behind banana and other fruit, and a single spoonful turns any smoothie a deep purple. Here are three recipes that take five minutes or less.
Tips before you start
- Use about 1 tablespoon of aronia powder or 50 ml of aronia juice per smoothie. Start with less if you are new to the taste.
- Aronia powder does not dissolve in water, so always blend it rather than stirring it in.
- Sweet fruit such as banana, mango or pineapple balances aronia's tart, dry flavour.
Recipe 1: berry breakfast smoothie
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1 tablespoon aronia powder
- 1 cup Greek yogourt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 cup water or milk
Put everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve right away. Thick, creamy and deep purple.
Recipe 2: mango, pineapple and aronia smoothie
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1/2 cup pineapple, fresh or canned in juice
- 1/2 banana
- 50 ml aronia juice or 1 tablespoon aronia powder
- 3/4 cup coconut water or orange juice
- A squeeze of lime (optional)
Blend until smooth. The tropical fruit makes this one naturally sweet, with a tart berry finish from the aronia.
Recipe 3: purple smoothie bowl
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen blueberries or mixed berries
- 1 tablespoon aronia powder
- 2 to 4 tablespoons yogourt or plant milk
- Toppings: granola, sliced banana, dried aronia berries, coconut flakes
Blend with as little liquid as possible so the mixture stays thick, scraping down the sides a few times. Spoon into a bowl and add your toppings. A great alternative to an acai bowl; see how the two berries compare in aronia vs acai.
Make it your own
- Add a handful of spinach; the aronia colour hides the green.
- Swap Greek yogourt for plant-based yogourt or silken tofu.
- Add oats or nut butter for a more filling smoothie.
- Freeze leftover smoothie in popsicle moulds.
More ideas: easy ways to add aronia berries to your diet.