Researchers unveil something that could turn the miracle fruit world on its ear. Find out how fungus, E. coli, and even tomatoes have come to be key players.

For the past several years, Japanese researchers have enlisted the help of fungi, non-virulent forms of E. coli, and field crops in an effort to create bio-production systems to inexpensively yield larger amounts of miraculin, the active ingredient in miracle fruit. The Japanese have been a little bit ahead of the us and the rest of the world when it comes to using miraculin. For instance, miracle fruit extract and miraculin has been tested and approved for sale by Japan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (comparable to the FDA in the US). Miracle fruit tablets have been on sale in Japan since 2006.

The most promising effort to come to fruition (get it?) has been through tomatoes. Would they be called miracle tomatoes or miracle fruit tomatoes? One of the decisions the researchers are trying to make is whether these tomatoes would be offered as snacks prior to consuming food or if the tomatoes would provide an easier way to mass produce miraculin for use in capsules.

This is pretty exciting news in the world of miracle fruit. Maybe this will be the catalyst that the miracle fruit needs in order to become mass marketed and produced in the US.

Read the full story at here

Any comments or concerns about this news? Let us know what you think.

It’s been a great few weeks! We have redone our website, collected more miracle fruit recipes, posted more content, secured a deal with a supplier, and even opened up for business. The sweat on our brow has just broken.

Much more is in the works…

We want to be the number one resource for everything miracle berry. Why? We’ve spent hours and hours experimenting, and having fun with the miracle fruit. We’ve also spent a lot of time researching the miracle fruit on the internet.

We’re dissatisfied!

All of this great information is spread out in smaller pieces throughout the internet. We want to round it all up, and package it in just the right way for you. We want miracle fruit information to be accessible and more palatable.

If you haven’t been here in a while, take a look around. And check back soon.

• Miracle Fruit Recipes
• Miracle Fruit FAQ
• Throwing a Flavor Tripping Party?
• Where to buy miracle fruit
• Follow us on twitter

Photo credit Lex”i”con

Flavor tripping is a term used to describe the effects of the miracle fruit. Once this berry is eaten and given a chance to coat the tongue, it temporarily changes the way taste buds perceive sour or acidic flavors, making them taste very sweet. Lemons taste like lemonade candy. Goat cheese tastes a little like cake frosting. Check out a full list of tasting suggestions here.

Because of the unusual effects of the miracle fruit, some people or venues throw “flavor tripping” parties. A bunch of people come over and sample an array of foods to taste them in a whole new way.

I suppose I can’t say that this is the rage all over the nation because, frankly, it’s not. However, there are a few restaurants, clubs, and bars that have been known to throw flavor tripping parties, or flavor tripping nights. These occur mostly in larger cities. Oftentimes, the events sell out. One venue, Atlanta’s Three Sheets, holds a flavor tripping night once a week. They require reservations, and sell out almost every time ($20 admission). These flavor tripping events can cost anywhere from $10 – $50 a head. Admission normally includes a miracle fruit berry and an assortment of fruits and some sour or odd-tasting foods to choose from. Liquor is normally not included.

So have you missed the boat?

I don’t think you can say that. The flavor tripping party that really made waves was the one featured in the NY Times back in May of 2008. What boat is there to miss, really? Chances are, most of the people you know haven’t gone to or thrown a flavor tripping party, much less, even tried the miracle fruit. So, you’re in the clear. This is more of a cult following, fringe event; the likes of which have mostly been experienced by foodies, hipsters, and above all, the curious.

Thanks to the fact that you can order these miracle fruit tablets (you can buy some here), you can throw a flavor tripping party of your own without breaking the bank, and without having to charge your guests fifty bucks a head to get in. They can probably even pitch in by bringing in their favorite fruits or drinks.Plenty of people are already doing this. Just type in “flavor tripping party” in youtube or flickr, and you will be inundated with recently posted videos or pictures of people having a jolly ol’ time with the miracle fruit.

Interested in throwing a flavor tripping party? Click here.

You’ve taken the plunge. You’ve tried the miracle fruit for yourself, and have been blown away by the effect it has had, transforming the way you taste sour, bitter, and acidic foods into delightfully sweet treats.

Or maybe you haven’t tried the miracle fruit yet, and you don’t want to do it alone.

Have a party!

Perhaps you want to shock and amaze your guests, or you want them to cheer you on as you try the miracle fruit for the first time. Either way, we at the Miracle Fruit Blog are here to save help you. If you’re in the dark about what flavor tripping is, click here.

Step 1:

Buy some miracle fruit tablets. We normally go with the tablets for a few reasons: they have a longer shelf-life (about 12 – 18 months), whereas the berries can only last 2 to 3 days. Also, it takes about 3 berries to make one tablet. For more info, click here.

Step 2:

Plan ahead of time what kinds of foods you would want everyone to try. You can even request some assistance from your guests. Ask that they bring foods, fruits, or drinks to try with the miracle fruit. Encourage curiosity. Acquire, prepare, and arrange the foods and drinks you are going to sample.

Preparation of the foods is key. You and your guests don’t want to waste time peeling, ripping, or cutting different foods apart. Arrange bite-size samples of the foods you would like to try. Check out our recipes page for taste suggestions, as well as many food and drink (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) recipes. Click here.

Step 3:

Taste some of the foods without the effect of the miracle fruit. It will give you a baseline of how things normally taste, and it’s just a lot more fun seeing how much the foods have changed in comparison.

Step 4:

Dissolve a miracle fruit tablet on your tongue. Don’t chew! All you and your guests want to do is place a miracle fruit tablet on the tongue. Let it dissolve. Swirl, swoosh, and mix your saliva with the miracle fruit tablet and let it coat as much of your tongue and taste buds as possible. It’s not going to work if it doesn’t come in contact with your tastebuds. This is very important. Once the tablet has dissolved, you’re ready to go.

Flavor or taste trip away. This is an experience to remember. Have fun with it. Try what you can. Make different concoctions and mixes. Share.

Play a game: Feed a blindfolded person different foods and have them guess what it is they are eating. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

WARNING:

Just because something doesn’t taste acidic, doesn’t mean it’s not acidic. Going overboard with eating lemons and chugging vinegar may take a toll on your stomach. Go easy.

Need ideas on what to serve? Click here.

Many new recipes have gone up in the past few days. Be sure to check out periodically, since we’re going to be adding recipes as we come across them. This is not to mention some of the recipes that we are experimenting with and creating ourselves.

So far we’ve added:

Desserts:

• Lemon Curd
• Citrus Combo
• Miracle Fruit Cupcakes
• Fresh Strawberry Pie
• Lemon Meringue Pie
• Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Drink & Cocktails:

• Miraculous Lemon Drop
• Gemini’s Grace
• Miracle Mojito
• Thornton Cocktail
• Miracle Limeade Cocktail
• Magic Berry V8

Appetizers:

• Grilled Pepper Salad
• Watercress and Endive Salad
• Couscous & Fruit Salad
• Vegetarian Chili
• Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Crab

Entrees:

• Lime Grilled Fish with Fresh Salsa
• Chicken and Fruit Salad
• Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad

Here are some recipes that we hope to see soon (cutting room floor):

• Apple Strudel
• Sugar-free teriyaki sauce
• Sour Jell-O shots
• Magical Martini

For us, the miracle fruit blog just got a whole lot sweeter. Why? Well, we’re extremely proud to announce that we are officially open for business! But forget about the confetti, party streamers, or noisemakers. Okay okay, noisemakers are allowed. There is something else we want, though.

For two years, we’ve been obsessing about trying more and more things with the miracle fruit, and telling people around us all about it. What better way to share the excitement and fascination we have with this magic berry than being able to offer it to the good folks who happen upon this site and our company. However, even with all of this, something is still missing: YOU. Tell us what’s going on with you and the miracle fruit. What have you tried or what recipes have you concocted. Have you thrown any flavor tripping parties or put together some strange combinations of food? Do you have any stories regarding getting spouses, kids, or friends to eat healthier? Are you a diabetic and have a good story to tell of how miracle fruit has helped you?

Leave us a comment.

My relationship with food, as I’m sure is the same with most of you, consists of a dual nature. On one hand, I eat to stay alive. On the other hand, I eat mostly for pleasure and enjoyment. This enjoyment, my friends, is probably the predominating drive as to why I look forward to eating multiple times every single day. I don’t over-do it (all the time).

I’m not on any strict diet. I don’t suffer from diabetes, and I’m not on chemo. Part of my passion and excitement for the miracle fruit involves what big–no, HUGE–implications it has for many people whose quality of life has diminished somewhat. A large part of that quality of life hinges on the enjoyment of food. I know the smell, taste, and texture of good food is a big part of my quality of life.

So, for me personally, why the fuss about miracle fruit? Is it just a novelty or a party trick? Some may think so. I definitely don’t. At least, not anymore. Other than going crazy at a flavor tripping party, you can use it to enhance a typically mundane meal.

Last night, I was in the mood for a sweet, refreshing drink. I didn’t have anything in the fridge other than milk. What I ended up doing was pouring myself a glass of water, and squeezing in the juice from half of a lime. After dissolving a miracle fruit tablet on my tongue, I drank. It was nothing but lime juice and water, but you know what? It was pretty darn sweet.

That’s when it hit me.

I didn’t scour the house for ingredients to crazy combinations. No crazy concoctions like mustard + vinegar + cheese + kiwi + chocolate were on my list for that night. I wasn’t in the mood for changing my taste buds for an interesting evening. I was just thirsty. All I had was the desire to drink something which I didn’t have in stock. The miracle fruit tablet was able to solve that problem for me. And I was satisfied.

You don’t have to wait for a special occasion or a full pantry of the bizarre to enjoy how the miracle fruit can make your day-to-day life a little sweeter.

Some may think this is negative press, but it’s all in good fun.  Last week’s episode of CSI: NY featured the murder of a girl at a flavor tripping party.  She was given poison to drink and…oh my!  She couldn’t taste it because of the perception-altering effects of the miracle fruit.  No more spoilers.  You can watch the episode online here:  CBS.com

CSI: NY Season 5 Episode 11 “Forbidden Fruit”

New to miracle fruit? Start by checking out some of the links from the following list:

http://www.thrillist.com/new-york/2008/10/05/miracle-fruit-parties http://flavortripping.wordpress.com/

An earlier post included a link to the New York Times article covering the famous Queens, NY flavor tripping party.  Here’s the video: