Preserving miracle fruit berries

Abstract

Provided are methods of preserving and/or storing Synsepalum dulcificum berry, which may involve separating a pulp of the berry into two or more parts; and freeze drying the berry with the separated pulp.

1 . A method of preserving  Synsepalum dulcificum,  comprising:
 a) obtaining a fresh  Synsepalum dulcificum  berry;   b) separating a pulp of the berry into two or more parts; and   c) freeze drying the berry with the separated pulp.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 d) deseeding the freeze dried berry; and   e) storing the deseeded berry in an environment with a reduced oxygen content.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the separating comprises slicing the pulp of the berry into two or more parts. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the berry is separated into two parts. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the two parts are substantially equal in size. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the freeze drying is performed at a temperature ranging from −50° C. to −90° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the freeze drying is performed at a pressure 0.3 mbar to 10 mbar. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the freeze drying is performed for a time ranging from 1 hour to 50 hours. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said storing comprises storing the deseeded berry in an oxygen barrier packaging. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the oxygen barrier packaging is a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephtalate packaging. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said storing comprises storing the deseeded berry with an oxygen absorber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said storing lasts at least one month and the stored berry preserves an effective amount of miraculin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said storing lasts at least six months and the stored berry preserves an effective amount of miraculin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said storing lasts at least twelve months and the stored berry preserves an effective amount of miraculin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said storing does not involve refrigerating the deseeded berry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said storing does not involve applying ice packs to the deseeded berry. 
     
     
         17 . A product comprising:
 a) an oxygen barrier packaging;   b) an oxygen absorber, which is configured to reduce an oxygen content in an inner volume of said packaging; and   c) a deseeded, freeze dried  Synsepalum dulcificum  berry in the inner volume of the said packaging, wherein said berry is sliced into two or more parts, said berry contains an effective amount of miraculin.   
     
     
         18 . The product of  claim 17 , wherein the berry is sliced into two parts, which are about equal in size.