Synsepalum dulcificum
| Synsepalum dulcificum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | S. dulcificum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Synsepalum dulcificum | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Bakeriella dulcifica (Schumach. & Thonn.) Dubard | |
Synsepalum dulcificum produces berries that, when eaten, cause sour foods (such as lemons and limes) subsequently consumed to taste sweet. This effect is due to miraculin, which is used commercially as a sugar substitute. Common names for this species and its berry include miracle fruit[2] and miracle berry. These common names are shared also by Gymnema sylvestre and Thaumatococcus daniellii,[2] two other species that are used to alter the perceived sweetness of foods. Additional common names include miraculous berry [2] and sweet berry.[3][4][5] In West Africa where the species originates, common names include agbayun,[6] taami, asaa, and ledidi.
The berry itself has a low sugar content[7] and a mildly sweet tang. It contains a glycoprotein molecule, with some trailing carbohydrate chains, called miraculin.[8][9] When the fleshy part of the fruit is eaten, this molecule binds to the tongue's taste buds, causing sour foods to taste sweet. While the exact cause for this change is unknown, one theory is that miraculin works by distorting the shape of sweetness receptors "so that they become responsive to acids, instead of sugar and other sweet things".[10] This effect lasts 15–60 minutes.[11]
History
The berry has been used in West Africa since at least the 18th century, when European explorer Chevalier des Marchais,[12] who searched for many different fruits during a 1725 excursion to its native West Africa, provided an account of its use there. Marchais noticed that local people picked the berry from shrubs and chewed it before meals.
An attempt was made in the 1970s to commercialize the ability of the fruit to turn non-sweet foods into sweet foods without a caloric penalty but ended in failure when the FDA classified the berry as a food additive.[7] There were controversial circumstances with accusations that the project was sabotaged and the research burgled by the sugar industry to prevent loss of business caused by a drop in the need for sugar.[13] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has always denied that pressure was put on it by the sugar industry but refused to release any files on the subject.[14] Similar arguments are noted for the FDA's regulation on Stevia now labeled as a "dietary supplement" instead of a "sweetener".
For a time in the 1970s, US dieters could purchase a pill form of miraculin.[10] It was at this time that the idea of the "miraculin party"[10] was conceived. Recently, this phenomenon has enjoyed some revival in food-tasting events, referred to as "flavor-tripping parties" by some.[15] The tasters consume sour and bitter foods, such as lemons, radishes, pickles, hot sauce, and beer, to experience the taste changes that occur.
References
- ^ "Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell". African Flowering Plants Database. Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville Genève - South African Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
- ^ a b c Wiersema, John Harry; León, Blanca (1999). World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. CRC Press. p. 661. ISBN 0849321190.
- ^ Peter Hanelt, ed. (2001). Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Vol. 2. Springer. p. 1660. ISBN 3540410171.
- ^ James A. Duke, Judith L. DuCellier, ed. (1993). CRC handbook of alternative cash crops. CRC Press. pp. 433–434. ISBN 0849336201.
- ^ John C. Roecklein, PingSun Leung, ed. (1987). A Profile of economic plants. Transaction Publishers. p. 412. ISBN 0887381677.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
USDAwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Levin, Rachel B. (June 23, 2009). "Ancient Berry, Modern Miracle: The Sweet Benefits of Miracle Fruit". thefoodpaper.com. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
- ^ McCurry, Justin (2005-11-25). "Miracle berry lets Japanese dieters get sweet from sour". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
The berries contain miraculin, a rogue glycoprotein that tricks the tongue's taste-bud receptors into believing a sour food is actually sweet. People in parts of west Africa have been using the berries to sweeten sour food and drink for centuries, but it is only recently that the global food industry has cottoned on.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Cite error: The named reference
reasonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Rowe, Aaron (2006-12-07). "Super Lettuce Turns Sour Sweet". Wired Magazine. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Park, Madison (March 25, 2009). "'Miracle fruit' turns sour things sweet". CNN. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
wallstreetlemonswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Sweet and sour tale of the miracle berry". The First Post. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "The miracle berry". BBC. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
I honestly believe that we were done in by some industrial interest that did not want to see us survive because we were a threat. Somebody influenced somebody in the FDA to cause the regulatory action that was taken against us.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Farrell, Patrick (2008-05-28). "A Tiny Fruit That Tricks the Tongue". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External links
- "Miracle fruit facts". Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. from the California Rare Fruit Growers
- "The Fruit Hunters: Author Adam Leith Gollner on the Politics of Fruit and the Secret History of the "Miracle Berry"". Democracy Now!. July 9, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-25.