Aphrodisiac Foods

Legend has it that the first aphrodisiacs were consumed after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, rose from the sea on an oyster. Many ancient civilizations used aphrodisiac foods to enhance sexual pleasure and to increase fertility. Some believe their power lies in their suggestive shapes; others think they are imbued with ingredients that allow a person to become more susceptible to arousal. So, stir up the hormones and let the sparks fly with some mouth-watering romantic recipes.

 Shucked Raw Oysters and Lime

Spice up your meal with delicacies from Cupid’s own kitchen. It’s believed that oysters were first used as aphrodisiacs by the Romans. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, was prescribed oysters by his physician because of his decreasing libido. In the second century A.D., the playwright Juvenal noticed how women would lose their inhibitions after consuming wine and oysters.

The ancients also believed in the law of similarity—i.e., anything resembling genetalia could endow sexual powers. In reality, oysters are high in zinc, and when consumed, they boosted the nutrition levels caused by their inadequate diet, ultimately improving sex drive.

Oysters are believed to be most potent when eaten raw, though shucking them is an art form and a delicate operation probably best left to a professional fishmonger.

Keep it simple and enjoy the sensual pleasures of eating with your hands. Serve each oyster in its shell and add just a drizzle of lime.

Chocolate & Strawberry Heaven

The sweet, sensual pleasure of cocoa combined with the plump, luscious heart-shaped berry. The Aztecs regarded chocolate as an aphrodisiac more than 1,500 years ago, and the Emperor Montezuma reportedly drank it 50 times a day. For your little taste of heaven, use only the finest chocolate that money can buy and gently heat it over a low flame. Dip the strawberries, leave them to cool in the fridge for 15 minutes, and then feed them to your lover.

Spears of Euphoria

Asparagus has long been considered an aphrodisiac because of its phallic shape. A vegetable with a more suggestive form than most, it’s full of potassium and vitamin E, which are believed to stimulate sex hormones. For a romantic recipe that will set the heart aflame, lightly grill fillets of Atlantic salmon and serve on a bed of oven-roasted potatoes with asparagus and grilled courgette. Top with Béarnaise sauce.

From Russia with Love

These sweet, pearl-shaped, and velvety eggs are a powerful symbol of fertility. They represent new life, and there’s a long history of hedonistic feasts featuring caviar as czars, kings, and emperors enjoyed dining on the gourmet delicacy. Most of the world’s caviar comes from the Caspian Sea, and Beluga is the best.

Prepare deviled eggs, peel, then slice in half. Top each one with a teaspoonful of black caviar and garnish with fresh chives.

Passionate Red

Wine has been used as an aid to amore since ancient times. Heady scents anderotically charged aromas are potent aphrodisiacs. The randy reputation ofred wine stretches back to Dionysus, who was the god of wine as well as fertility and procreation. Even before this, the ancient Greeks would give grapes to newlyweds, believing the seeds would bless couples with children.

Alcohol melts inhibitions, and moderate amounts are said to arouse. To get your partner in the mood, serve a rich, robust, sexy little number such as a Charles Krug Merlo 2004 from Napa Valley or a full-bodied Diseño Malbec 2006 from Argentina’s premier grape variety or maybe a dark Tuscan red such as the 2003 Luce Della Vite.