If you want to cook up something to stir the senses this Valentine’s Day,
use ingredients that have mythical powers of arousal, er, love.
For thousands of years, certain foods have been said to increase desire, but
a dietician at the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center says, “There’s no
proof to it. There hasn’t been any conclusive evidence that any foods work as
aphrodisiacs.”
But why worry about proof when it’s more fun to believe that carefully selected foods will spark an appetite for more than culinary adventures? Here, then, is a list of foods with legendary libidinous powers:
Almonds: A symbol of fertility; the aroma is said to induce passion
in women.
Aniseeds: Used as an aphrodisiac since the Greeks and Romans; sucking
on the seeds is said to increase your desire.
Asparagus: The seductive shape makes it best when cooked and consumed,
or fed to your lover, whole.
Avocados: Aztecs called them ahuacuatl, which translates to testicles.
Bananas: In addition to their erotic shape, they have been associated
with erotic energy in the Tantric tradition. The potassium and vitamin B in
bananas are necessary for sex hormone production.
Carrots: The phallus-shaped carrot has been associated with stimulation
since ancient times. So that’s what Bugs meant when he said, “Eh, what’s
up, Doc?”
Celery: It contains androsterone, a male hormone that can stimulate
the sexual arousal of females. The Romans dedicated celery to Pluto, their “god
of sex.”
Chocolate: Considered one of the undisputed kings of aphrodisiacs, its
powers on the sexual appetite have led to chocolate being banned in some monasteries.
Figs: The erotic, fleshy fruit is considered a powerful sexual stimulant.
Ritual copulation followed the arrival of the new fig crop in ancient Greece.
Mustard: Believed to have a powerful effect on the sexual glands. Do
you have any Grey Poupon?
Oysters: Documented as an aphrodisiac food by the Romans in the second
century AD; their shape somewhat resembles female genitalia. They are also loaded
with zinc, which controls progesterone levels to have a positive effect on the
libido.
Pine Nuts: Arabian scholars recommended 100 pine nuts before going to
bed; Roman poet Ovid touted them in “The Art of Love.”
Raspberries and Strawberries: Combined with Champagne, these are regarded
as powerful aphrodisiacs; they’re described in erotic literature as “fruit nipples.”
Truffles: Their musky scent is said to stimulate and sensitize the skin
to touch.
Regardless of whether or not these foods are really aphrodisiacs, the sensual pleasures they suggest could make your Valentine’s Day a romantic feast. So set your menu with an imaginative and playful combination of some of these tempting treats, set the table, and set the mood. Enjoy!
This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2005.
