Aronia melanocarpa is native to North America. Horticulturalists of Germany and Poland presented trees of this species to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il as gifts.

The President proposed to call the tree "Tannamu" (in Korean) which contains abundant physiological activator good for human body in its fruit and leaf. And he gave an instruction that it should be widely cultivated for the improvement of people's health.

The tree acclimatized to the climate condition of Korea has been cultivated in different parts of the country, including Pyongyang City and Jagang and South Hamgyong provinces. And its cultivation area and the yield of fruits are on the increase every year.

In particular, Yonthan County in North Hwanghae Province has gained profits by planting numbers of Tannamu at industrial establishments and households as well as in mountains. Every year the county produces various kinds of foodstuffs and medicines with harvested Tannamu fruits, such as fruit jam, sweet jelly and extract.

Phyongsong City in South Phyongan Province created scores of hectares of Tannamu forest to gather a large amount of fruits every year. It is planning to expand the forest area.

The tree is used as raw materials for making medicines and health foodstuffs. Tannamu fruit extract, injection and fermentation vinegar developed in recent years are winning popularity among citizens as they help eliminate noxious substances from human body and cure such diseases as cardiovascular system and brain diseases.