Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Galia Melon
The Galia melon has a lightly netted golden yellow rind with a pale glacial green succulent flesh that has a signature spicy sweet flavor with tropical and perfumed aromatics.
Seasons/Availability
Miracle berries are available the year round.
Current Facts
During the 1970s producers tried to commercialize these berries, however it was not successful. The Sugar Industry lobbied against the commercialization because they feared that people would start replacing sugar with miracle berries as a diet supplement, since they create a sweet flavor without the calories.
Description/Taste
Miracle berries are tasteless, but they have a sweet effect on sour foods. Limes, lemons, and even vinegar, taste sweet if they are eaten after a miracle berry. This sensation occurs, because an active glycoprotein molecule called, miraculin, attaches to the taste buds and alters the sweet receptors on the tongue and changes sour flavors to sweet flavors. This flavor alteration can last from five to thirty minutes.
Applications
Mostly a novelty item, miracle berries have been purchased in order to host tasting parties during which participants eat a berry, and then taste a variety of tart and astringent foods in order to experience the sweet affect first hand.
Geography/History
The Miracle berry is native to West Africa. Other names for these berries include Magic berry, Miraculous berry or Flavor berry. According to food historians, native tribes ate these berries before meals. When grown in its original location, these plants grow in bushes that can reach up to twenty feet in height. However, cultivated plants typically do not reach more than ten feet.
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Miracle Berries using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Charcoal Central Near Leominster, Massachusetts, United States About 57 days ago Specialty Produce Near San Diego, California, United States About 128 days ago Spotter's comments : Miracle Berries are unique, when eaten they turn sweet foods sour, and vice versa. |
