The aronia belongs to the Rosaceae family, which includes lots of varieties. The best-known types are the Aronia arbutifolia and the Aronia melanocarpa. These wild varieties usually produce smaller berries that contain more tannic acid and tannins.
Various aronia cultivars have been developed through selective breeding. These tend to yield larger berries that contain less tannic acid and have a much milder taste. These cultivars include all the varieties of the Aronia melanocarpa that have been crossed with other varieties (e.g. Viking, Hugin and Nero).