Sweetness is a taste that has captured the imagination of consumers world over and white sugar or High Fructose Corn Syrup has literally made the consumers compulsive eaters of highly sweetened foods. The consequences are there for every one to see as the affluent society is faced with the ill effects of uncontrolled consumption of foods containing high sugar levels, supposed to give immense sensory satisfaction, in the form of rampant obesity and many health disorders like diabetes. Arrival of artificial sweeteners did provide some relief, obviating the need to use sugar by those unable to take natural sugar but their use is mired in controversy on safety issues. Latest to arrive on the scene is the so called Miracle Fruit which is reported to have the property to make sour and bitter foods appear sweet in the oral cavity, thus satisfying the craving for foods which are sweet. It is interesting to read about the "miracle" brought about by this fruit on the tongue as can be seen from the following report.
"Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), sometimes known as the Miracle Berry, is a plant native to West Africa. The berry has a mildly sweet flavor; however, the fruit is treasured not for its own taste, but for the fruit's unique effect on the taste buds. Miracle Fruit contains a glycoprotein called miraculin, which binds to the tongue's taste buds when the fruit is consumed. Miraculin acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids, causing bitter and sour foods to taste sweet, temporarily. This effect usually lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours. The plant was first documented in 1725, when explorers in West Africa observed the local tribes picking the berries and chewing them before meals. Recently, the fruit has become popular in food tasting events, sometimes referred to as "Miracle Fruit Parties." Partygoers consume sour and bitter foods -- such as lemons, radishes, and beer -- to experience the dramatic change in taste. Miracle Fruit is available in three forms: The actual berries (which are usually frozen due to their high perishability), freeze-dried fruit granules, and miracle fruit tablets".
In India the Amla fruit, Indian Gooseberry, gives some what same sensation after experiencing a little bitterness initially and this has been attributed to the presence of gallic acid in the fruit which modifies the taste bud perception regarding sweetness. Though precise mechanism is not yet understood, it is presumed that the brain is misled to send message that the bitter taste is sweet to the tongue! Similarly another phytochemical gymnemic acid acts differently to decrease the sweetness perception of a product containing high sugar levels. What implications these "wrong" signal inducers in the development of new food products is not yet certain, though experts believe more elbow room is now available to design low sugar products targeted at diet moderating and diabetes people in the coming years. Miracle fruit juice concentrates, granules and pills are already in the market for consumption by the sugar shunning consumers to evoke sweetness feeling even at low levels of sugar and in presence of sour ingredients.
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