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| Joined: | Mon Nov 21st, 2005 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 6399 |
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Small berry roughly the size of a 5p coin.
Latin name: Synsepalum dulcificum.
Discovered in west Africa in 1725 by a French explorer.
Grown in Thailand, Ghana, Costa Rica - and now Dorset.
Available as a freeze-dried powder, as capsules and, occasionally, fresh.
Recent history: attempts to commercialise the fruit in the US in the 1970s collapsed amid rumours of obstruction from the sugar industry.
TV appearances: The Graham Norton Show (BBC2); Richard & Judy (Channel 4).
Makes sour foods taste sugar laden and reacts strangely to other foods. Red wine tastes like blackcurrant juice, goat's cheese like mozzarella, Guinness has been likened to "fizzy Nesquik'". Effects last from 30 mins to 2 hours.
Popular with cancer patients (the berry allegedly counteracts a coppery taste in the mouth brought on by chemotherapy) and with diabetics who need to limit their sugar intake.
A potential weapon in the fight against obesity.