It's real. They are small red berries called simply 'miracle fruit' but the scientific name is Synsepalum dulcificum. It apparently "rewires the way the palate perceives" certain flavors and therefore, can make bitter or sour foods taste sweet. The effects last between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

In the 70s, there were diet pills made of the berries. Today, there are a lot of 'flavor tripping' parties surrounding the fruit.

As for where you can buy them, lots of tropical nurseries have the plants readily available. Here is one place you can buy the entire plant:
http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/

This site has an excellent list of where the plants and even tablets can be purchased:
http://www.miracletaste.com/index.php/topic,6.0.html
Source(s):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html

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