I first heard about Miracle Fruit a couple of years ago, but haven’t been able to find any here in the US until now.
Thinkgeek.com sells Miracle Fruit tablets, but they’re currently sold out. I managed to get my order while they were still in stock.
Miracle Fruit, is the name given to the fruit of a small West African plant called Synsepalum dulcificum. The fruit itself is red and about the size of a coffee bean. The fruit’s flesh contains an active glycoprotein called “miraculin” that bonds to the taste buds on your tongue and, through currently unknown means, causes bitter and sour foods to taste sweet. This effect has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
I received my Miracle Fruit Tablets yesterday, and after dinner, I popped a half-tablet into my mouth and let it dissolve.
The first thing I tried was pure lemon juice — I only drank a small amount, since lemon juice has a high acid content — and it was like drinking lemonade.
Next, I tried a piece of frozen broccoli (mostly thawed). It was like eating fresh garden peas right from the pod.
Mustard, sour cream, cream cheese and vinegar all tasted sweet to some degree.
I’m going to have to experiment more with this stuff. The affect only lasts for about 45 minute to an hour for a half-tablet, which is nice for experimentation purposes; Since the taste of some foods can be negatively altered (so I’ve heard), prolonged affects would be kind of annoying.
In reading articles online about miracle fruit “parties”, I’ve noted various accounts of how different foods’ flavors are changed. I’m skeptical about some claims, incuding how Guiness tastes like chocolate milk, or a hamburger tastes like a doughnut. But I’m willing to experiment — all in the name of science, of course.
It’s an interesting phenomenon, for sure. And if it can make broccoli taste better, I’m sold.
