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Did you know? When the Miraculin protein is combined with acids, it strongly stimulates the sensation of sweetness in the tongue.
When sour or acidic foods are consumed after stimulation, it sends a message to the brain that the food is sweet. This sensation can last from thirty minutes to two hours depending on how long you had the pulp in your mouth.
What is Miracle Fruit?
It is the "Miracle Fruit Sensation". The "miracle", is its marvelous ability to transform sour and acidic tastes into sweet tastes. The Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) is a little fruit about 1.3 to 1.8 cm (0.6 to 0.8 inch) in length and 8 mm (0.4 inch) in width. It looks as though it is an oval cherry. Its outer coat (pericarp) is red in color when fully ripened and green when not ripened. The fruit during its ripening process takes several tones of greens and reds.
What is Miraculin?
The pulp of the fruit which contains a glycoprotein is called Miraculin. A glycoprotein consists of 191 amino acids and some carbohydrate chains. Because glycoproteins are sensitive to heat, miraculin loses its taste modifying properties when heated over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When the Miraculin protein is combined with acids it stimulates the sensation of sweetness in the tongue. Then, when sour or acidic foods are eaten it sends a message to the brain that the food is sweet tasting. This sensation can last thirty minutes and up to two hours, depending how long you leave the pulp in your mouth.
Where Does This Fruit Originate From?
This fruit was first discovered between 1704 and 1727 in West Africa by a French explorer named Reynaud Des Marchais.
In 1852, Dr. W. F. Daniell, a botanist stationed at an outpost in West Africa, published an article in the Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. Xl, where he dubbed the fruit the "Miraculous Berry". When the word got out about the properties of the" Miraculous Berry", entrepreneurs of that time realized the importance of this berry and commercial viability. Since that time, millions of dollars and uncountable hours of research have gone into the development of the Miracle Fruit into a sugar substitute. An industry that would have been worth billions.
In the early 20th century, botanist David Fairchild who worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture was the first person to introduce Miracle Fruit to the U.S.A. from Africa. In 1968, the active protein in the berries was isolated by a biology professor Lloyd Beidler, Florida State University. It is said that Dutch researchers who were doing similar research with Miracle Fruit berries at that time named the active protein, "Miraculin". Others may say, that the name "Miraculin" came from Professor Kenzo Kurihara. A Japanese scientist, who also isolated the active substance in 1968.
Many attempts have been made to grow the tree in small scale. Several plant nurseries claim to have a few trees for sale and a few sell the fruit. Due to the limited supply the fruit has been sold at high prices. Miracle Fruits Exchange, Inc out of beautiful South Florida has the best offer at this time.
How is the Miracle Fruit Produced?
The fruit is produced by a tree that can grow up to 5.5 meters tall (18 feet) in its native environment. However, in the U.S. the tree grows to about 2.5 meters (8 feet) tall. This tree is a very slow growing tree and relatively hard to cultivate outside its native environment. It thrives under a humid tropical environment. Young Miracle Fruit trees can't endure freezing conditions, but adult trees may be able to tolerate very short and not to intensive freezes.
Miracle Fruit is produced almost year round. There are specific months in which the fruits production intensifies. We observed that during the months of August through October, trees become heavy producers, depending on if temperatures in South Florida don't get too cold during the end of this duration. In the winter months in South Florida the return will depend in how cold the winter is. We prefer to have mild winters so that the fruits aren't affected much. It's during the Spring and the beginning of Summer when the tree produces another great harvest.
What are the Potential Uses?
The use can be immense and unlimited. Miracle Fruit is a natural product that has no adverse or side effects that have been found. Thus, making it a safe natural product to use.
Some of the uses are: - As a dietary supplement: Dieters can reduce their sugar or artificial sweeteners intake by using this fruit. This will allow them to reduce their calories intake.
- As a food enhancer: It makes vegetables and fruits like broccoli, lettuce, lemon, lime, grape fruit, strawberries, pineapple, grapes and many others taste better. Therefore, making them more appealing and possibly inducing the person to consume more vegetables and fruits. Also, a person who doesn't care for them much.
It enhances the taste of many other foods in addition to the fruits and vegetables. For example Miracle Fruit makes foods that are "hot" tasting, taste sweet without taking the “hot” sensation away. It even makes vinegar, meat, some salad dressings, and some beverages taste better. Miracle Fruit makes red wine and beer taste sweeter. Many people are using it before the intake of many cocktails to improve their tastes.
It helps certain bitter tasting medicines easier for children to take by making them more palatable.
The more you experiment with it the more uses you will find for it. Be creative! - For diabetic patients: People with diabetes can incorporate the use of this fruit in their normal diet before eating to avoid the use of sugar or other artificial sweeteners. It will trigger in your brain the taste enhancement of many other foods. With many diabetic recipes the taste of the recipe can be enhanced making them more palatable for children and adults.
- For cancer patients: Patients undergoing chemotherapy tend to loose their ability of proper taste and one side effect may be a creation of a metallic taste deteriorating the quality of the flavor of the foods that they eat. The Miracle Fruit alleviates this side effect, by eating this fruit before their meals many unpleasant tastes will disappear. It will make their eating experience a more pleasant and tastier one.
- To improve well-being: Make of the Miracle fruit a healthy lifestyle, this fruit will induce you to eat more fruits and vegetables providing the health benefits of eating enough vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibers, and phytochemicals that will help prevent diseases.
- There are more ways.
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Selection of Miracle Fruit.
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