Miracle Fruit Grower's Handbook - Download (1.38 mb)
The Miracle Berry“Making the world sweeter” Learn how to grow and use this amazing rediscovered fruit from West Africa The natural way to sweeten your food
This booklet is your guide to growing and using the Miracle Berry Or “Miracle Fruit”for fun and better health.
French map maker, Chevalier des Marchais’ first encountered the miracle berry during his journey to West Africa in 1725. The West African diet was very limited, including very sour soups, breads and palm wine. Des Marchais joined tribes people who ate the miracle berry before meals and discovered that the berry turned sour foods into sweet meals. In 1852, the berry was botanically classified as Synsepalum dulcificum, a member of the Sapotacea family. The miracle berry has not been popular in the U.S. until now because the berries are too fragile to import and the ingredient extraction process is expensive. More importantly, researcher/ entrepreneur Robert Harvey attempts to gain FDA approval to sell the miracle berry as a sugar substitute failed, possibly due to the powerful U.S. sugar lobby. Today, however, the combination of Black River Nursery’s healthy plants and specialized growing system makes miracle berry’s extraordinary properties very affordable. “It’s not a miracle, it’s a chemical reaction”
The miracle berry contains a compound called miraculin. Miraculin is a glycoprotein. When eaten, the miraculin in the Miracle berry or Miracle fruit binds to the taste receptors in your mouth and changes the perception of sour into sweet, possibly by changing the shape of the receptors. The effect lasts from 15 minutes to about an hour. Is the Miracle Berry safe?
West Africans have eaten miracle berries for centuries without concern. Plus, glycoproteins such as miraculin are not associated with any kind of toxicity. Finally, the testing that has occurred , primarily by the Army, has shown no ill effects at 3000 times the normal amount consumed.
Having Fun with the Miracle Berry!
Keep in mind: Miraculin, the active ingredient in the miracle berry is a protein so it breaks down when heated. Don’t add the miracle berry to a recipe. Instead, chew a miracle berry, coating your mouth, then taste foods prepared with less or no sugar for a taste treat without the calories! Try these fruits: Lemons, Limes, Kiwi, Pineapple, Granny smith apples, blue berries, Strawberries (a must try) raspberries, Rhubarb, just to name a few and we have many recipe’s that have been gathered from Miracle fruit enthusiasts’ from all over, healthy and low calorie! Growing Miracle Berry using the Thermoplanter 1200 growing system
Pour loose drainage stones into the bottom of the Thermoplanter, covering the heater. The stones help drainage and allows the heater to operate more efficiently. Add potting soil. Gently remove the Miracle Berry tree from its 4-inch pot. Place the plant into the center of the Thermoplanter and fill to the same soil level as the 4 inch pot. Gently compress the soil around your tree and water with the diluted fertilizer mix. (Instructions for diluting fertilizer are on the fertilizer bottle.) Place black foam cover over plant and secure with the anchor plugs provided. It is OK to slice the foam cover to fit it around the plant if you cannot pull the foam over the top of the plant. (The cover keeps soil temperature warmer and reduces the amount of watering needed.)
Light and Feeding Needs
Miracle Berry plants cannot tolerate full sun and must be protected by placing plant in a partial shade location such as a window with good indirect light. (Some early morning sun is OK for your plant.) A T5 fluorescent grow light for the winter months provides just the right amount of light for Miracle Berry. Miracle Berry plants grow best with light, consistent feedings. Follow the directions on the fertilizer bottle supplied in the kit for feeding your plant.
Humidity and Watering
If the air is dry, use the plastic cover supplied to keep the humidity level high for your plant. Higher humidity encourages better flowering and helps the plant hold onto its fruit. If possible, use rain water to mix with the fertilizer and for plant watering. Rain water is typically less alkaline then well water or most municipal water sources, which may yield better growth.
Pollination and Growth
If Your Miracle Berry plant is indoors and flowering , shake your tree gently each day to pollinate the flowers that open to encourage the plant to set fruit. Miracle Berry is a slow growing tree but once it gets established, it will provide quite a lot of fruit. It takes about a month from flowering to fruit. Fruit can be frozen and keeps well for several months.
Ready-to-Eat
The Miracle Berries are ready to use when they turn bright red and feel slightly soft to the touch. Keeping Miracle Berries Fresh
Miracle Berry is very perishable, lasting only a few days after picking. You can extend its life by freezing the berries for up to two months. A note of caution: freezing destroys the seeds. If you want to harvest seeds, remove and freeze the flesh of the fruit and sow the seeds immediately.
Grow Plants by Seeds
If you want to try growing Miracle Berry by seed, sow them immediately after fruit is picked. The Thermoplanter heated pot works well for starting new plants from seed. Keep the cover off and initially cover newly sown seed with a little plastic to keep the humidity levels high. If your air is too dry, new plants will dry up at the tips so make sure you cover the pot. After seedlings have sprouted, use the larger bag pulled over the wire frame to create a humid greenhouse environment.
Uses for the Miracle Berry Flavor Tripping Party
Invite your friends for a tasting party. Prepare platters of different foods to try such as lemons, pickles, grapefruit juice, goat’s cheese, wine, beer and so on. Give each guest a Miracle Berry and invite them to sample your buffet!
Diabetics
If you are diabetic, you can use the Miracle Berry to help you enjoy foods that might otherwise be less appealing to you. Plus, you can enjoy “sweet” food such as pies made without sugar that taste as good as before. Caution: work closely with your healthcare provider to establish an appropriate diet for your situation.
Weight Loss
Use the Miracle Berry to lower your caloric intake without losing the flavors you enjoy. Visit our recipe section for ideas.
People Undergoing Chemotherapy
Try using Miracle Berry in combination with a variety of foods. You may find that the effect on your taste buds helps you find many foods more palatable. RECIPES
Miracle Berry Cupcake Recipe
2 C flour1/2 t baking powder1/4 t baking soda1/4 C (1/2 stick) butter1/4 C unsweetened applesauce1/4 C grapefruit juice1/4 C lime juice1 egg1/4 C plain yogurt1. Mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder and set aside.2. In a medium-sized bowl, cream the butter. (It was so weird to cream the butter without adding sugar!)3. Add the juices.4. Mix in the egg.5. Slowly add the flour mixture.6. Mix in the yogurt until just incorporated.7. Fill cupcake liners Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.
Miracle Berry Frosting Recipe
Spread goat cheese on the cupcakes. (That's it! No sugar, no butter, no whipping!) Makes 8 cupcakes Hot Fruit Compote
4 cups fresh fruit (see recommendations below)Unsweetened fruit juiceNutmeg and cinnamon
In a medium-sized saucepan place chopped fresh fruit and add just enough fruit juice to cover fruit. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon to taste. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until fruit is tender.
Serve warm (or chilled) in dessert bowls. Serves 4 to 6.
Recommended fruits: apples, peaches, pears, rhubarb, plum, prune, whole berries.
Creamy Lime Pie
Crust2 cups Fiber One original bran cereal1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted1 TBS corn syrup1 TSP vanilla extractFilling2 TBS cold water1 TBS fresh lime juice1-1/2 TSP unflavored gelatin4 oz. (half an 8-oz. package) 1/3-less fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened 3 containers (6 oz. each) Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy Key Lime Pie yogurt½ cup thawed reduced-fat whipped topping2 TSP grated lime peel Instructions: Oven to 350°. Place cereal in a zip-lock plastic bag., and finely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet until cereal looks like graham cracker crumbs (or finely crush in food processor).In medium bowl, mix crust ingredients until blended. Press crust mixture evenly and firmly in bottom and up sides of 9-inch glass pie plate. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until firm. Cool completely, about 1 hour.In 1-quart saucepan, mix water and lime juice. Sprinkle gelatin on lime juice mixture. Let stand 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved. Cool slightly, about 2 minutes.In medium bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add yogurt and lime juice mixture. Beat on low speed until well blended. Fold in whipped topping and lime peel. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Serves 8. Miracle Berry Cocktail
2 oz. fine dark rum Juice of 1/2 lime Juice of 1/2 lemon 2 oz grapefruit juice (or orange juice if you would like it to be very sweet) 2 dashes orange bitters Shake and serve over ice in highball glass.
Garnish with slice of lime and lemon,
Rhubarb Fruit Pie
made with fresh fruit of the season
Pastry and Topping:2 cups granola (flaked coconut, chopped nuts, dried fruit, rolled oats, seeds and/or spices) 2 cups unbleached white flour 1/2 cup vegetable oil Unsweetened fruit juice (squeezed oranges, lemons,...)
Filling:4 or 5 cups mixed, sliced fresh fruit (mostly rhubarb; apple, peach, strawberries, pineapple, whole blueberries), 1/4 cup unbleached white flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine granola, flour and oil and mix well. Gradually add fruit juice, adding just enough to form a soft dough. Divide mixture in half. Press one portion into a lightly oiled 9″ pie pan, covering bottom and size evenly. Save the remaining half for the topping.
In a large bowl toss fresh fruit with flour, lemon juice and spices to taste. Spoon into pastry-lined pie pan and sprinkle evenly with reserved granola topping. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 °C) for 40 minutes or until fruit is tender. Cool and refrigerate.
To serve, top each slice with chopped fresh fruit. Serves 8.
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