Miracle Fruit Helps Cancer Patients Enjoy Food by Changing Taste Buds

Red berries in South Florida make sour and bitter foods taste sweet for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A 'miracle fruit' found in South Florida is helping cancer patients enjoy their food again by changing their taste buds. The red berries, known as Synsepalum dulcificum, can make sour and bitter foods taste sweet for 30 to 40 minutes. This helps chemotherapy patients who often experience an unpleasant 'metallic' taste, allowing them to better tolerate their meals during treatment.

Why it matters

Many cancer patients struggle with taste changes and loss of appetite due to the side effects of chemotherapy. The miracle fruit provides a supportive tool to help these patients continue getting proper nutrition during their treatment, which is crucial for their health and recovery.

The details

The miracle fruit works by interacting with the taste receptors on the tongue, temporarily blocking sour and bitter tastes and making foods taste sweet instead. Doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center and Miami Cancer Institute have been studying the fruit's impact and providing it to their patients. The delicate berries are also sold in frozen cubes to help preserve their properties.

  • The miracle fruit has been helping cancer patients in South Florida since at least 2012.

The players

Julie Ascen

A patient diagnosed with MALT lymphoma almost a year ago who says the miracle fruit changed her life by making food taste better during chemotherapy.

Dr. Mike Cusnir

An oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center who has carried out multiple studies on the fruit's impact on cancer patients' taste buds.

Erik Tieting

The owner of Miracle Fruit Farm in Redland, Florida, who has been growing the miracle fruit trees since 2012.

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What they’re saying

“When I tried the miracle fruit for the first time, my whole life changed. It made the food taste better.”

— Julie Ascen, Patient (CBS News)

“What patients report with chemotherapy is that they may develop a bothersome taste that could be described as metallic, rotten food.”

— Dr. Mike Cusnir, Oncologist, Mount Sinai Medical Center (CBS News)

“It is one of those miracles that, if you have this disease, you want to live your life and not have it control you. And this lets it not control me; I can control myself.”

— Julie Ascen, Patient (CBS News)

What’s next

Doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center and Miami Cancer Institute plan to continue studying the effects of the miracle fruit on cancer patients' taste buds and its potential to improve their quality of life during treatment.

The takeaway

The miracle fruit provides a simple, natural solution to help cancer patients cope with the taste changes caused by chemotherapy, allowing them to better enjoy their food and maintain proper nutrition during a difficult time. This supportive tool could make a significant difference in the lives of those battling cancer.