Miracle Fruit

A medium sized oval berry, dark red in color that grows on small bushy trees in tropical climates. Native to Africa, this berry is similar in shape to an olive and provides a meaty pulp surrounding a small seed. The distinct attribute of this berry is its ability to act as a sweetener, especially when eaten with sour ingredients, such as lemons, limes or vinegar. By eating this berry, the human taste buds are coated and converted to sensing only sweetness in foods, resulting in lemons tasting sweet and not sour, despite the fact that the flesh of this fruit is not sweet tasting. This sour dampening effect is present for an hour or so, but is sufficient for altering the taste of foods being served during a meal or a dessert. The characteristics of this berry enable it to be made into a sweetener for a variety of uses.