A few years ago, my better half gave me a tiny miracle fruit plant for my birthday. It was a tropical twig, with barely four leaves, and I wondered how long I’d wait to sample the exotic, flavor-changing berries. Well, wait no more: the 2-foot-tall plant spent the winter in my living room, and it’s decided to reward my good care with a few berries.
A few tiny, light beige flowers are visible next to the fruit, so there is at least the possibility of additional berries.
Why am I so excited about a few tiny fruits? Miracle berry (synsepalum dulcificum) contains miraculin, a compound that distorts human taste perception. Eat a miracle berry, and for short while, everything tastes sweet. Yes, everything: lemons, limes, vinegar, pickle brine.
Hopefully, my little plant will produce enough berries to share one day. Meanwhile, when I try out the berry’s effects, I’ll be sure to post about it.
Exciting! I’m very interested to hear what happens.
I hope it works! I’ve been tending this plant for years now–it would really suck to discover that I’m immune to the “sweetening” effect.