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A fruit that tricks the tongue
The Times of India ^ | 28 May 2008, 2317 hrs IST | Patrick Farrell & Kassie Bracken

Posted on 05/28/2008 11:47:14 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick

Carrie Dashow dropped a large dollop of lemon sorbet into a glass of Guinness, stirred, drank and proclaimed that it tasted like a "chocolate shake".

Nearby, Yuka Yoneda tilted her head back as her boyfriend, Albert Yuen, drizzled Tabasco sauce onto her tongue. She swallowed and considered the flavor: "Doughnut glaze, hot doughnut glaze!"

They were among 40 or so people who tasted under the influence of a small red berry called miracle fruit. The berry rewires the way the palate perceives sour flavors for an hour or so, rendering lemons as sweet as candy.

The miracle fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa and has been known to Westerners since the 18th century. The cause of the reaction is a protein called miraculin, which binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids, according to Linda Bartoshuk of University of Florida, who has studied the fruit.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fruit; lemon; sweetener; tongue
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1 posted on 05/28/2008 11:47:14 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
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To: CarrotAndStick

2 posted on 05/28/2008 11:47:50 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: CarrotAndStick

Would it get my wife to.......oh, never mind.


3 posted on 05/28/2008 11:49:42 AM PDT by johniegrad
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.

Better get a few cases for the Democrat convention...

.

4 posted on 05/28/2008 11:50:19 AM PDT by polymuser (Those who believe in something eventually prevail over those who believe in nothing.)
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To: CarrotAndStick

Coulda used these big-time with the ex’s cookin’!


5 posted on 05/28/2008 11:50:28 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: CarrotAndStick

Sugar companies can’t like this.


6 posted on 05/28/2008 11:54:03 AM PDT by TheWasteLand
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To: CarrotAndStick

Known to westerners since the 18th century? What’s holding up the show?


7 posted on 05/28/2008 11:54:44 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( Uh...fight SCD. Schwa Collapse Disorder is spreading. Save the a word. Just say uh.)
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To: CarrotAndStick

Possible sugar substitute? Anyone on FR actually tried this fruit?


8 posted on 05/28/2008 11:57:07 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: CarrotAndStick

I’ll have to eat a BUSHEL of these to vote for McCain.................


9 posted on 05/28/2008 11:58:07 AM PDT by Red Badger (NOBODY MOVE!!!!.......I dropped me brain............................)
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To: johniegrad

She swallowed and considered the flavor: “Doughnut glaze, hot doughnut glaze!”


10 posted on 05/28/2008 11:58:25 AM PDT by bird4four4 (Behead those who suggest Islam is violent!)
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To: CarrotAndStick
"Tastes like chocolate!" (Don't get it in your eye...)

You'll need an ice cream cone tomorrow morning.
11 posted on 05/28/2008 11:58:46 AM PDT by evets (beer)
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To: CarrotAndStick
A fruit that tricks the tongue

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

12 posted on 05/28/2008 12:01:28 PM PDT by Sax
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To: CarrotAndStick

Just say no! I’m sure the DEA will quickly move to make this illegal because, you know, it might result in people experiencing enjoyment and amusement. The war on (some) drugs continues.


13 posted on 05/28/2008 12:03:32 PM PDT by mngran2
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To: mngran2

Veruca Salt will want one.


14 posted on 05/28/2008 12:05:05 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Sax

Killer - absolutely killer.


15 posted on 05/28/2008 12:05:57 PM PDT by Buckhead
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To: mngran2

That’s the FDA’s area of expertise. Making something illegal until big (put industry here) can be guaranteed their profits.


16 posted on 05/28/2008 12:08:44 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast
The FDA nixed it! It has been alleged that BIG SUGAR influenced the FDA which I wouldn't doubt one bit!
17 posted on 05/28/2008 12:12:27 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast
Known to westerners since the 18th century? What’s holding up the show?

Government. Someone tried to bring it to market in the 1970s, but at the last minute the FDA declared that it would have to be tested as a food additive (they had previously asserted that no research would be needed, since its safe use for so long in Africa meant that it should qualify as "generally recognized as safe").

The company couldn't get funding to stay in business without a product for the years necessary for testing, so they folded.

18 posted on 05/28/2008 12:13:10 PM PDT by Technogeeb
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To: Red_Devil 232
"The FDA nixed it! It has been alleged that BIG SUGAR influenced the FDA which I wouldn't doubt one bit! " Tell us the the truth, don't sugarcoat it.
19 posted on 05/28/2008 12:15:18 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: Buckhead

It was Liberace or Richard Simmons, Liberace just had more class...


20 posted on 05/28/2008 12:20:32 PM PDT by Sax
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