Miracle Berries Make Sour Taste Sweet

Have you got a sweet tooth but are watching your waistline? Do you crave a sugar rush but suffer from Diabetes? Miracle Tablets could be just the thing for you!

Imagine biting into a wedge of lemon without so much as a wince; now imagine your mouth watering at the prospect of drinking a smooth glass of….vinegar. This suggestion sounds preposterous to say the least, but by simply sucking on a little red tablet beforehand it could become a very pleasant reality.

How does it work?

Without getting too technical, the extract taken from the berry (‘Synsepalum dulcificum’) is freeze dried, turned into a powder and bound with corn starch to create a red tablet about the size of an average paracetamol. Once placed on the tongue an active ‘glycoprotein molecule’ sets about binding your taste buds, effectively making even the bitterest of flavours taste as sweet as the sickliest toffee gateau with the effects lasting anywhere between half an hour and two hours.

Where have you been all my life?

Although the berries were first documented in the Eighteenth century and have been eaten in West Africa just as long, research into their possible taste-transforming properties didn’t take place until the 1960’s when an American biomedical post graduate student by the name of Robert Harvey discovered their potential.

His original plan was to integrate the active ingredient into food in place of sugars; however when it came to the launch of the product in 1974 it was unexpectedly blocked by the Food and Drugs Association (FDA) who had seemed to be backing the product up until this point. Without the funding required to carry out another 7 years of testing in order to deem the berry ‘safe’, research ceased and all talk of the berries disappeared again until recently when it resurfaced in the form of a tablet.

Does it work?

In a word, Yes. Although it might not be as convincing as the companies selling the product would have you believe.

“I’d seen them advertised on some social networking sites but thought it was another too good to be true gimmick, but I can confirm it isn’t." Said Sean Morris, a curious purchaser from Doncaster England, when asked about the product in an interview.

"I ate a full lemon and although it didn’t taste like an orange, it didn’t taste like a lemon either, it was sugary sweet.

“I tried all the obvious things like vinegar and beetroot, but it will be fun to see how other things taste, like a full meal”

Although as Sean went on to explain, the effects of the tablets come at a price in more than one way:

“If I had to name any downsides it would have to be the price, even if all the tablets last the full two hours, it still works out at about 50p an hour.

“Another big setback is the actual taste of the tablets. I have a pretty strong stomach so it didn’t bother me, but one of my friends who tried it physically gagged at the taste”

Imposters

Less reputable sellers have already been attempting to cash in by selling sugar tablets packaged to look like miracle berry tablets.

If you are interested in sampling the effects of the taste-twisting drug it is suggested you purchase them from a reputable outlet, with the retail price of the real tablets at around £10 for a box of 10.

Learn more about the history of the Miracle berry here.

References:

Fowler, Adam. "The Miracle Berry." BBC.co.uk. Online. 28/04/2008

"Miracle Fruit Tablets." Firebox.com. Online. 2008, 22 July 2008.

"Miracle Berries and the miracle fruit." TwistedTaste.co.uk. Online. 2008 <Link> 22 July 2008.

"Obesity Statistics UK." Annecollins.com. Online. 2007, 22 July 2008.

Miracle Berry Tablets from Sen Yuh Farm Sience Co.

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