They may not be enchanted love potions but some swear by these foods and their ‘magical’ ability to put you in the mood for love! So, if you’ve been struck by Cupid’s arrow and plan to ignite passion this Valentine’s Day, make sure your candlelit dinner includes these luxuries.
Words: Shantini Suntharajah
The rarest and most expensive caviar comes from the Caspian Sea. Caviar connoisseurs believe this delicacy is best savoured with well-chilled vodka.
Stimulating caviar
Henry Kissinger is said to have declared: “I’ll do anything for caviar and probably did.” Rasputin, Dostoevsky and yes, Casanova, are believed to have considered caviar their ‘drug of choice’. One of the most expensive foods in the world, caviar or fish roe is an undeniable luxury. This salty sweet, succulent treat is prized for its flavour, as well as its aphrodisiacal powers. Like oysters, caviar is also high in zinc, which heightens libido and promotes blood flow to all the right places! Caviar also stimulates the creation of testosterone in men, which positively impacts virility. This indulgent food is essentially an egg, which means it is a symbol of fertility – a trait that adds to its status as the food of love.
Spirited champagne
Picture a candlelit dinner table for Valentine’s Day. Does your mental image include a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice? If you said ‘Yes’, it’s probably because almost every romantic dinner (both real and reel) features a bottle of bubbly and this has led to the popularity of champagne as an aphrodisiac. The truth is it’s not just champagne but any kind of alcohol that can turn up the heat. Alcohol increases romantic desire not so much for its effects on the body as on the mind. It lowers inhibitions and encourages out-of-the-ordinary behavior, relaxes you and loosens the tongue. All good news if you are aiming for third base but drinking responsibly will actually see you waking up beside your loved one the next morning. Not in a lock-up with drug addicts, thieves and prostitutes.
Champagne is playful and celebratory; German actress Marlena Dietrich once said of champagne: “It gives you the impression that every day is Sunday.”
The truffl e is often called the ‘diamond of cookery’, ‘gem of poor lands’ and ‘black pearl’.
Titillating truffles
Napoleon is said to have eaten truffles, believing this fungus would increase his masculinity. Eighteenth century French gastronome, Savarin, painted a vivid picture with his words when he said, “Truffle. As soon as the word is spoken, it awakens lustful and erotic memories among the skirt-wearing sex and erotic and lustful memories among the beard-wearing sex.” One of the most luxurious and costly culinary ingredients, truffles were a legendary aphrodisiac in Rome. Science is yet to back the ancient Romans’ claims but many believe that this fungi’s earthy, musky aroma is reminiscent of the male pheromone androstenone – a scent that is believed to inspire passion and desire among the ladies. Have some and you both can burrow under the sheets looking for your own ‘truffles’!
A for avocado
The Aztecs certainly seem to know their aphrodisiacs! Linguists have translated avocado tree to mean ‘testicle tree’ in the Aztec language! In fact, avocados were believed to have been so potent that Aztec mothers forbade their virginal daughters to set foot outside their homes when the fruit was being gathered by villagers. Even the early Catholics seemed to harbour a lively caution against the avocado with priests forbidding their parishioners from savouring its delicious succulence. Over time, the avocado lost its ‘forbidden fruit’ reputation but retained its status as a potent aphrodisiac. Chock-full of folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin E and potassium, avocados increase the immune function and are great for improving stamina and energy. Mashed avocadoes make great facials and you may want to slather each other’s face with it for some foreplay action.
Some researchers believe eating avocados, which are rich in monounsaturated fat, can increase fertility in women.
Loading Facebook...
Loading ...