Miracle Berries That Make Your Tongue Trip??

Recently while scrolling through Facebook, I saw a friend of mine was interested in an event called “Miracle Berry Flavor Tripping Party”. At first I was a little shocked/concerned that said friend was publically sharing that she was going to something called a tripping party, but then I looked into it and what I found was something straight out of a Willy Wonka movie.

“Flavor tripping” is has been blowing up on social media and is quickly becoming the newest trend in cool, safe and ~drug free~ fun. So what exactly is it?

Miracle berries come from the Synsepalum dulcificum plant, mostly found in West Africa, and contain a protein called miraculin that binds to your taste buds and temporarily numbs them to make sour foods taste sweet. Because it can be difficult to find the actual berries themselves, you can buy them in tablet form (Mberry Miracle Fruit Tablets 10-Count sells for $15 on Amazon). Once the tablet dissolves on your tongue, you can begin to experiment with different foods and taste the effects of the “flavor trip”, that can last anywhere from 30 minutes up to two hours. Mberry, the producer of the tablets, has marketed their product as a way to bring people together, suggesting that it's "fun for the whole family" and encouraging customers to have their own flavor tripping parties. 

So do they really work? It seems so. Feeling skeptical of the hype around this magical berry, I went to the reviews for the proof until I can try them for myself. With the occasional dud mixed in, most of the Amazon customer reviews were 4-5 stars, saying their experiences were great and that the tablet delivered what was promised. One reviewer did warn others to beware of minty tastes, as they do not react well with the berries.

The suggested foods to try that have had the strongest reactions to the berries include:

·      Sour foods like lemons, limes, grapefruit and other tart fruits

o  Reviewer compared the taste of a lemon to an apple

·      Savory or acidic foods/drinks like beer, cheese, pickles, Tabasco, apple cider vinegar

o   One reviewer said a shot of balsamic vinegar tasted like maple syrup

·      Spicy foods like chili peppers

My next question was is this 100% safe? The answer is yes. The tablets are all-natural and include just two ingredients: miracle berry powder and cornstarch. There have been no reports of any adverse reactions to the berries or the tablets. Many people have even suggested the health benefits of using them to help eat better and reduce sugar intake, saying that their ability to make vegetables taste like candy makes it easier to choose healthier foods. Apparently there is even a Miracle Berry Diet Cookbook.

Described as “the taste sensation that’s sweeping the nation", it seems that it won't be long before these berries reach mainstream popularity. I’m not sure how I didn’t hear about them sooner, but mine are ordered and on the way and I can't wait to see what all the hype is about!