Our History

The miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) also known as miracle fruit was first discovered in 1725 by a European explorer named Chevalier des Marchais. He noted how various tribes were popping miracle fruit berries before they would eat their traditional foods—kankies (cornbread), pitto (palm wine), and guddoe (oatmeal gruel). He tried some and noticed that the berries made these sour foods sweet.

In 1852, a British surgeon, Dr. William Freeman Daniell, described the fruit in a pharmaceutical journal as a "miraculous" berry. However it wasn't until 1919, a notable USDA botanist, David Fairchild first imported several trees into the United States. By 1950's the miracle berry was thriving and being eaten by locals and tourist in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Panama.