miracle fruit

i have been wondering what so miraculous about this fruit tree since i first came across it at lorong semangka at sungei tengah agrotechnology park last year. today, i came across two rows of them, one on each side of neo tiew lane 2 as i was cycling to the kranji reservoir pumping station.

a relatively tasteless berry with an amazing after-effect. after eating one miracle fruit, sour things will instantly taste sweet. eating even the sourest of lemons, one will taste only sugary sweetness. the effect lasts an hour or two. the miracle fruit is a remarkable natural sweetener that is virtually unknown to much of the world.

i have yet to see the red berry fruit on the tree. it fruits twice a year, after the raining season, so i may get to see the berries soon.

do not confuse the miracle fruit tree with the miracle tree. the miracle tree, known as the moringa, is found growing in africa. it has the potential of building immune systems, an important consideration in treating aids.