None — Miracle Fruit parties are becoming the hottest way to entertain. After eating the small berry, people eat a variety of foods to feel its effect. Sour fruit such as limes and lemons taste like sweet lime juice, tomatoes taste like they're fresh off the vine and strawberries with goat cheese taste like a strawberry and cream dessert.
Ryan Akly, owner of Three Sheets Atlanta and Miracle Fruit party host, says the berry is still an underground event, but it is steadily gaining popularity. "There is only one distributor, and he is in Fort Lauderdale," he said. "They've already been doing taste parties in Los Angeles and New York City, but as far as I know, we're one of the first to offer it in the south east."
Before his guests started the Miracle Fruit experience, Akly placed a variety of foods in front of them and described the process. "To feel the effects, you eat the berry then you spit out the seed. It's almost like a cherry. It's got a big seed in the middle," he said. "You whirl the pulp of the berry in your mouth for about a minute." Akly then handed out sliced lemons and limes, ketchup, cottage cheese, strawberries and broccoli.
"The ketchup was probably my favorite because it was like gourmet ketchup," said one taster.
"The lemon and lime that was amazing it was so sweet. I didn't taste any sourness," said another.
The most intriguing food combination may have been the shot of Guinness beer with a scoop of lime sorbet. "Everyone is enjoying the sorbet with the Guinness. That's definitely my favorite," said a third Miracle Fruit party attendee.
Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) is a small fruit native to West Africa. It is about the size of an almond and has a sweet mild taste. When it is chewed, a protein called miraculin binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inductor when it comes in contact with acids. The effect of Magic fruit lasts for 30 minutes to two hours. Scientists who have studied the fruit have not found any dangers associated with eating the fruit, according to Akly.
If you are looking to attend a Miracle Fruit party at Three Sheets Atlanta, go to their website at www.threesheetsatlanta for more information.
WSBTV
