The Fruit of Miracles
Miracle fruit plants, scientifically known as Synsepalum dulcificum, are fascinating tropical berries native to West Africa. Their unique property of altering taste perception, making sour foods taste sweet, has captivated people for centuries. These plants were discovered by local tribes who revered their remarkable ability to enhance the flavor of their meals. Today, miracle fruit is gaining popularity worldwide for its intriguing taste-altering effects and culinary applications.
The miracle fruit plant and berry have many names. The latin name for miracle fruit is Synsepalum dulcificum. Its common names include miracle plant, miraculous plant, miracle berry, magic berry, and most commonly miracle fruit.
The berry has one large pit that the juicy flesh of the plant sticks very well to. It is slightly sweet but some people find its mucous like consistency a little off-putting.
Miracle fruit has many uses such as helping diabetics consume less sugar while still being able to eat sweet foods. Miracle fruit also helps dieters cut down on sugary sweets while still being able to satisfy their sweet tooth. Chemotherapy patients use miracle fruit to remove the metallic taste in their mouth that usually prevents them from eating.
The berry itself works with sour, bitter and acidic foods such as lemons, vinegar, tomatoes, pickles, beer, wine, and dark chocolate to name a few.
Fresh miracle fruit berries have a short shelf life of about three days. Refrigerating the berries can extend their life by up to two weeks and freezing them can give them a shelf life of about a year.
Many different types of miracle fruit products are sold such as miracle fruit tablets, granular miracle fruit and miracle fruit lollipops. All these products are derived from the miracle fruit itself but unfortunately none of them provide a very strong effect like miracle fruit itself.
The miracle fruit plant is an excellent looking leafy shrub that doesn't grow to more then 8 ft tall outside of its native habitat. Its dark green leaves, that are usually no more then 4 inches long and 2 inches across, make it an excellent potted plant for accenting a room.
Anyone can grow miracle fruit at home and have fresh berries year round. Make sure to purchase a plant and head over to the growing sections for detailed instructions on how to take care of your plant.