These West African red berries alter one’s sense of taste. From Wikipedia:
Although the berry itself is not sweet, it contains an active molecular ingredient, a glycoprotein molecule, with some trailing carbohydrate chains, called Miraculin. This molecule masks the tongue's sour taste buds, causing bitter and sour foods (such as lemons and limes) later consumed to taste sweet. This effect lasts for up to 30 minutes and sometimes as long as two hours. It is not a sweetener, as it's effects depend on what you eat afterwards, but has been used to sweeten bitter medicines. - It will not however, make sweet foods taste sweeter.
From EatFoo:
Limes tasted like lime candy, lemons like lemonade, and meyer lemons and red grapefruit were some of the most tasty things I've ever eaten in my life. On the other hand, pineapples and kiwi were cloying, coffee was mostly unchanged, and wine was just plain disgusting.
Link & Image: EatFoo via BoingBoing
Tags: Fruit | Red Berries | Taste | Nature
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