The secret to miracle fruit products taste changing properties is a glycoprotein called Miraculin that attaches itself to your taste buds.

The active ingredient  itself has no discernable taste to speak of.  By placing a small quantity of the miracle fruit berry in the mouth, chewing the pulp for a couple of minutes and thoroughly coating the tongue, miracle fruit will change sour foods sweet. 

Smokers are advised to allow approximately forty-five minutes after their last cigarette as smoking dulls the taste buds and may affect the properties of the Miraculin.  In any case, it's also advised to rinse the mouth with water before consuming any miracle fruit products.

One miracle fruit berry, half a miracle fruit tablet or a small quantity of miracle fruit  powder is enough to experience the effects of Miraculin. Eating larger quantities of the miracle fruit berry does not seem to increase the intensity of the experience.

Foods such as meats and vegetables that are not usually sour are not not normally affected by miracle fruit products, although in some instances the flavours of some vegetables may improve.

Research has found that some foods which had previously masked flavours, were enhanced by the consumption of miracle fruit.

The flavour changing effects normally last from thirty minutes to two hours although expect some variation depending on whether you smoke, how well the glycoprotein coats the taste buds and the freshness or quality of the miracle fruit products. In some rare instances research has shown the effect to last up to eighteen hours.

Miracle fruit tablets and pills have a shelf life of approximately one year, miracle fruit freeze dried powder around three months and fresh miracle fruit berry,  just a few days.