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Richberry and The Environment of Camarines Sur
Richberry grows on our family farm in Goa, Camarines Sur, in the Philippines. Here’s a closer look at the place, its climate, and the small fruit at the heart of it all.
Our farm in Goa, Camarines Sur
It started with an idea, and a single seed, in 2001. That seed grew into our family farm: about three hectares in Goa, Camarines Sur, set 3,740 feet above sea level.
None of it happened quickly. It took years of patience, trial and error, and the help of our family and our local community. Over two decades, that work has become the berries you taste today. You can read how it all began in Our Story.
The climate of Camarines Sur
We like to share a little about the climate, so you can picture where your berries grow.
Camarines Sur has a flourishing tropical rainforest climate. Rain is a regular visitor: it falls even in the province’s driest month. These are conditions across the province as a whole; our farm sits higher, at 3,740 feet.
The miracle berry up close
The miracle berry is native to West Africa, a long way from Camarines Sur; a brief history tells its story. The berries are small, about the size of a cherry tomato. Each one holds a single seed, about the size of a coffee bean. The fruit itself is a vibrant red.
The surprise is inside. The berry contains miraculin, a protein that can make sour flavours taste sweet for a while. The food itself stays the same: no sugar is added and no acidity is removed. Only the way you taste it changes.
You can enjoy the berries on their own, or build them into your own recipes, as we do with our smoothies.
Taste the farm
The simplest way to meet our berries is with a slice of lemon. Taste it first and remember how sour it is. Then take 2–3 freeze-dried halves, chew them gently and let them linger for about 30 seconds. Now try the lemon again.
Same lemon.A sweeterperspective.
What’s next for Richberry
We hope to grow more plants in the years ahead, with the help and support of our family, friends and local community, and to share these special berries with more people.
Curious how it’s done? Read how to grow miracle berry plants, or taste the result.
“Good food brings people closer.”
