Flavor Tripping

[chefencer]

Dude!
A Tiny Fruit That Tricks the Tongue

The miracle fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa and has been known to Westerners since the 18th century. The cause of the reaction is a protein called miraculin, which binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids, according to a scientist who has studied the fruit, Linda Bartoshuk at the University of Florida’s Center for Smell and Taste. Dr. Bartoshuk said she did not know of any dangers associated with eating miracle fruit.
During the 1970s, a ruling by the Food and Drug Administration dashed hopes that an extract of miraculin could be sold as a sugar substitute. In the absence of any plausible commercial application, the miracle fruit has acquired a bit of a cult following.

[Pescados666]

Great for parties, I'd imagine. Or the teachers lounge >_>
Where would I be able to pick me up some of this? I'm a bit busy to fly to Africa right now...

[chefencer]

Well, that guy does supposedly sell it from his blog:
http://flavortripping.wordpress.com/
but his blog feels a little like a back alley...

[Pescados666]

Assuming they arn't too expensive, I might pick me up a couple. Not sure how it'd be ordering exotic fruit over a blog though.

[Coldfire]

Assuming they arn't too expensive, I might pick me up a couple. Not sure how it'd be ordering exotic fruit over a blog though.

The fruit is highly perishable and expensive — a single berry goes for $2 or more.

The fruits are available by special order from specialty suppliers in New York, including Baldor Specialty Foods and S. Katzman Produce. Katzman sells the berries for about $2.50 a piece, and has been offering them to chefs.

Mr. Aliquo gets his miracle fruit from Curtis Mozie, 64, a Florida grower who sells thousands of the berries each year through his Web site, www.miraclefruitman.com. (A freezer pack of 30 berries costs about $90 with overnight shipping.)

(extra characters)

[Got_Fenced_In]

Saw it on geekologie. I want to try it.

[Pescados666]

Would it be considered weird if a group of friends sat around in a circle and did these? Then go to a buffet of course.

[Got_Fenced_In]

Not in my opinion... did you read the article? I read it last week. And that's basically what those people do.

[academe]

I'm going to South Africa in a couple of weeks, I'll see if I can find it there and report back...looks really interesting.

[Got_Fenced_In]

Cool! We'll be waiting.

[Pescados666]

I'm going to South Africa in a couple of weeks, I'll see if I can find it there and report back...looks really interesting.

Any chance of you being able to bring me back a tree of these?

[Catseye]

There was an Attack of the Show! segment on this. I believe it's native to West Africa though and is also available commercially in Japan. Also, it seems to be cheaper in the UK?...http://www.miraclefruit.co.uk/buy.html