Miracle Berry | Fun facts

 

Miracle Berry

                         Miracle berries

The first thing that might probably strike in your mind after reading the name 'miracle berry' is that why is it called so?

What's the reason behind using the word 'miracle', for these dazzling red berries?

Let's check out some points to know the reason!

• Miracle berries are produced from a plant known as Synsepalum dulcificum, native in West Africa.

• It's a shrub which grows to a range of 1.8 to 4.5 m with white flowers and the berries are clustered at the end of the branches.

• The plant requires a warm, humid, frost-free environment for healthy growth.

• Each berry contains a seed which are like coffee beans in respect to their size.

Dazzling red berries

• It's also known as miracle fruit, miraculous berry, flavour berry or sweet berry.

So, let's break the suspense behind its name:

The berry when eaten, causes sour food like lemon, lime, etc subsequently consumed to taste sweet. This miraculous effect is known as miraculin, and hence known as miracle berry.

A glycoprotein molecule called miraculin is present inside the berries. It binds to our taste buds and causes sour food to taste sweet. The molecule itself is not sweet but has a novel taste - modifying action.

This sweetening effect lasts in 30-60 minutes.

The berry itself tastes sweet and contains 0% fat and 1 calorie each. Hence, it's used as a natural weight loss assistor. Various sweet dishes like strawberry shortcake, lime pie, lemon meringue, rhubarb pie and many more can be made at home by simply adding miracle berries instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

It is used as a flavouring agent and sweetener in West Africa for pulp wine, beer, vinegar, cocktail and pickles.

The berry is also used as a medicine to treat diabetes and to correct chemotherapy-related taste disturbances.

It contains Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

These vitamins help in maintaining health like Vitamin A builds a healthy immune system, Vitamin C increases the level of WBC in blood, Vitamin K supports bone health and blood clotting and Vitamin E provides antioxidant properties and improves vision.

The leaves of miracle berry are used in making tea which decreases the blood sugar value in hyperglycemia.

                      Miracle berry leaves

Interestingly, these berries were once banned by FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) under the pressure of sugar suppliers, as it was a strong natural sweetener and a sugar substitute. 

The credit of images goes to the respective owners.

Thanks for reading...

 Just for fun: You can yourself feel the magic by licking a lemon and after that taking a bite of magical berry!

Hey guys, share your views about this magical fruit with us.