Miracle Berry

[jetblack]

I was browsing erowid and I came across this

 

Although the _miracle berry_, a plant native to West Africa is practically

tasteless, it temporarily changes the taste of other substances.  Miracle

berries contain a protein, _miraculin_, that modifies sweet receptors in

such a way that they can be stimulated by acids

Sounds interesting, anyone know anything about it?

[licorice]

mdma has the same effects on knomes i know

[yggdrasil]

Limberlost nursery has this plant, called "Miracle Fruit" (Synsepalum dulcificam), seedlings $8.50 plus postage, and lots of other interesting plants like cloves, chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, pepper and a bunch of tropical fruit.

The opposite of Miracle Fruit, there is a plant called Gudmar (Gymnema sylvester) growing wild in the forests of Central India. If 2-3 fresh or dried leaves of this plant are chewed, then the the tastebuds connected for sweet taste are paralysed for 30-40 minutes and sugar will just taste like tasteless sand.

Cheers,

Amunda

LIMBERLOST NURSERY

113 Old Smithfield Rd Freshwater QLD 4870

Ph (07) 4055 1262

Fax (07) 4055 1042

[This message has been edited by Amunda (edited 04 October 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Amunda (edited 04 October 2002).]

[Guest reville]

Its that second one im keen on. Is there an Australian source for plants of that one yet?

My grandmother took it successfully for contrl of her Type II diabetes.

the miracle fruit can also be found at bunnings every now and then. Looks like an acid loving understorey shrub to me.

might be a nice admixture plant.

[coin]

another interesting one..plain water will taste sweet after eating the sour indian fruit Amalaki (emblica officinalis) ..don't know how prominent this effect is, i've only noticed it slightly after drinking Triphala infusion..but the astringency of Haritaki rules there

i'd be really interested to find out about gymnema also

[This message has been edited by coin (edited 05 October 2002).]