What if I told you there was a magical berry that grew in some far-off place, like West Africa, that when eaten would make everything else you ate taste amazing? With this miracle fruit you could chow down on lemons like they were apples, or drink a tall glass of vinegar and it would be amazing. You’d be skeptical, right? I was.

A shrub named Synsepalum dulcificum produces berries that have been dubbed “Miracle Fruit“. A chemical in them, called Miraculin (yeah, I’m serious) reacts with the tongue when you chew on the pulp, and bonds to the taste buds for about an hour. For that duration, when you eat something sour, your taste buds interpret it as sweet. There’s a little more to it than that, but it’s the gist. Magic!

The particular product I found, mberry, is a tablet made from the berry. You let the tablet dissolve over your tongue for about a minute and you get the same effects as chewing on the fruit. I had been wanting to try it out for a while, but I was hesitant to really spend any money on what was probably a big fake. Well, when Woot.com had a deal, selling 20 tablets for $10, I said, “Worth it!”

So today we gave them a try after lunch. Every article I’ve read has been completely accurate. They are completely amazing. It’s not a subtle effect at all.

Here’s a few highlights from what I’ve tried so far:

• Maple Syrup – My #1 favorite so far. You can taste so much depth in it, it’s mind blowing.
• Balsalmic Vinegar – It’s like you want to drink it by the glass. I don’t know what it tastes like, but I want more.
• Lemons – This classic miracle fruit treat really is amazing. They’re like candy. You’ll tear into them and feel bad before you realize that you’re eating a lemon.
• Hot sauce – Apply directly to tongue. You’ll thank me.
• Hummus – Sort of like peanut butter.
• Tequila – The cheaper the better. This smooths it out and makes for a happy friday afternoon at work. You’ll think you’re drinking top shelf stuff.

There’s a lot more we tried, and some were impressive, but there’s also surprising tastes that are terrible. Whatever you do, don’t try Jagermeister. Just don’t do it.

Has anyone else tried these things? Share your stories!

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.
    - Henry David Thoreau – Journal (Aug. 23, 1853)

Every quarter year or so I am assailed by the same seasonal misconception. It’s one of those things that seems so obvious to me that I’m again and again shocked that nobody else seems to have noticed. Your seasons are all off by 45 days.

Today people are celebrating the Summer Solstice and across the internet I’m hearing the same thing. Folks are wishing each other a happy “first day of summer”. But what’s this? It’s not the first day of summer, you say? That’s right, we are 45 days into summer already.

See, I think the problem is that people only ever learned the names of the seasonal mid-points growing up. The equinoxes and the solstices are the days which mark out halfway progression through each season. The summer solstice was, in fact, called “midsummer” for most of its existence. Remember that little play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”?

So with people only knowing four days, they just lazily made those the “first” days of each season. That’s my theory at least. Unfortunately, we already have days for that! The first day of summer was called Beltane, or May Day. The first day of winter was called Samhain (pronounced Soh-win). The first day of Spring: Imbolc. The first day of Autumn: Lammas, or Lughnasadh (pronounced Lunasa). We have holidays for all of these events!

The thing that really frustrates me is how these days are tossed on the pile as pagan holidays. They might have names that stretch back to some of that, sure, but only because they are first and foremost Earth holidays. If we celebrate the solstice it is no different than celebrating Imbolc. In fact, one of the last places you can find these days really celebrated outside of your local teen-age, Wiccan slumber party is in the Catholic Church calendar! The names may be different, but the celebrations are all there. Imbolc is Candlemas. Samhain is All Saints’ Eve. See?

Here’s the list, for quick reference:

• Yule, Winter Solstice, Midwinter, Christmas (ish)
• Imbolc, Candlemas, Groundhog’s Day, First day of Spring
• Ostara, Vernal Equinox, Lady Day, Festival of Trees, Gŵyl Ganol y Gwanwyn (if you like Welsh), Midspring
• Beltane, May Day, First day of Summer
• Midsummer, Summer Solstice, Litha, Samradh
• Lammas, Lughnasadh, Harvest or First Harvest, Bread Harvest, First Day of Autumn
• Mabon, Foghar, Second Harvest, Fruit Harvest, Midautumn
• Samhain, All Hallow’s Eve, Last/Blood Harvest, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, First day of Winter

That’s not so hard, is it? Thanks for stopping by. Have a great midsummer, folks!