Miracle fruit

Miracle Fruit is an evergreen shrub growing to 2-4 metres. Its name reflects the “miraculous” ability of its fruit to make sour foods taste sweet.

The plant bears oblong, bright red berries about 2 cm long. The fruit pulp itself is not particularly tasty, with the flavour-modifying property due to a special protein it contains.  The effect lasts around 30 minutes. Miracle Fruit can produce berries several times per year.

Because of this unique ability to modify taste, Miracle Fruit has been commercialised in healthcare to improve food palatability for people whose taste has been altered, for example by medical treatments. It is also used as a natural sweetener.