Spices to Spark Romance

Aphrodisiacs are spices, foods, drinks and other items that are intended to rev up a person’s sex drive, though whether they actually can instigate a rise in passions is another matter. People have long been incorporating alleged aphrodisiacs into cooking, incenses, body rubs and other means for arousal. To better understand what we do today, let’s take a peek at the past, keeping in mind that it’s best to take all we discover with a grain of salt…

The word ‘aphrodisiac’ comes from Aphrodite, the mythical Greek goddess of beauty, sexual love, fertility, the sea (and in some circles, goddess of war) whose libido registered on a mythically huge scale. Conflicting stories regarding Aphrodite’s birth set the stage for a multitude of cultural beliefs about love, passion and desire. 

According to Homer, the ancient Greek poet, Aphrodite was the offspring of Zeus, king of the gods, and his consort Deone. A spicier story has Aphrodite born from the foam created when Cronus (god of time) castrated his father Uranus and threw his genitals into the sea. Up from the foamy waters the beautiful Aphrodite rose in an oyster shell, fully grown and wearing only her birthday suit.

Because many Greeks were troubled by the obvious discrepancies in these birth stories, the philosopher Plato developed a reconciliatory theory, suggesting that there were actually two different goddesses of the same name, representing two different forms love. And perhaps here the adage “different strokes for different folks” was born.

Foods and flavorings have been used to inspire romance since the dawn of history, but aphrodisiacs have evolved over time. Would you consider allowing a gent beyond your home’s threshold if he came a’knocking with a hyena’s udder tied around his left arm? In Plato’s ancient Greece, you would have welcomed the lad in, and if your response to his advances were less than enthusiastic, more powerful love magic might be employed — a calf's brain, feathers from a screech owl, or hair from a wolf's tail.

To enamor potential lovers, ancient Egyptians often consulted astrologers for the most effective herbs and potions to employ, based on the couple's zodiac signs. The Egyptian fertility god Min was said to have an unquenchable hunger for lettuce, and so it was served in abundance. Dinner parties included foods in shapes suggestive of the male anatomy, like carrots and asparagus; these were often paired with bulbous foods representing female anatomy, such as figs, eggs, beets, and fennel. 

Speaking of suggestive shapes, remember the Greek myth of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, rising from the sea on an oyster shell? Aphrodite gave birth to her son Eros, the god of love, on an oyster shell. Since ancient time, oysters have been bestowed god-like erotically stimulating powers, in part because the bivalve mollusk supposedly resembles certain female anatomy. Giacomo Casanova, the 18th-century Italian who is best known as a charming seducer of women, is said to have eaten over 50 oysters a day, often dozens at a sitting, before his numerous trysts. Fast forward to today, where there's no scientific proof that eating oysters improves sex drive, though they do contain zinc, which is important for male sexual health and fertility.

Once considered the "food of pharaohs", the green leafy vegetable called molokhia, a relative of okra, was outlawed in 10th-century Egypt because of the overpowering aphrodisiac effect it had on women. Molokhia has made a comeback in Middle Eastern nations, for if you can get beyond its slippery, viscous texture, the leaves’ high content of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and beta-carotene will surely prove beneficial to your vitality. 

In ancient Middle Eastern cultures, pomegranate juice mixed with wine (reputed to be Aphrodite’s favorite blend) was often employed as an aphrodisiac. There is some contemporary support to this claim, as pomegranates contain antioxidants that may improve blood flow to the genitals; unfortunately, wine in excess can have the opposite effect. Certainly striking the right balance is essential…

In Persia, saffron was sprinkled on the marital bed of newlyweds to stimulate erogenous zones, encourage sex, and increase fertility; but due to its extremely potent effects, saffron was to be used only in moderation. More recently, research has shown that saffron contains picrocrocin, a compound that has a hormone-like effect which may (or may not) influence female arousal and lubrication. 

The history of cinnamon begins as far back as 2700 BC, in China, where it is was used in a variety of medical applications, including as an aphrodisiac. Cinnamon’s warming properties have been documented to improve blood circulation; this in turn could possibly increase sensitivity, boost libido and pleasure. Modern research has informed us that cinnamon can also stimulate brain receptors and increase dopamine levels, which are linked to sexual desires and arousal. Today, for some, nothing says “I love you” like a dozen home-baked snickerdoodles.

Cardamom is believed to be powerfully invigorating, increasing blood flow to genitals and improving the overall vitality of men and women. Originating in the warm climate of Kerala, India, historical records indicate that Cleopatra perfumed her palace with cardamom when Mark Antony visited her. The far-roving Vikings introduced cardamom to the colder clime of Scandinavia over 1,000 years ago, where it has remained a favorite spice. In Guatemala, another major producer of cardamom, people refer to it as Green Gold. 

Not sure if you’ve ever tasted cardamom? Think again; it’s the uniquely fragrant and exotic flavor in chai tea, Turkish coffee, and many cakes, jams, and pastries that produces a distinct warming throughout your body. Cardamom has the additional ability to lower the body’s cortisol levels, easing stress and anxiety, promoting calmness and receptivity. Warming, calming, opening… sounds like the perfect setting for a romantic rendezvous! 

With its sweet, creamy aroma that evokes warmth and comfort, vanilla is often referred to as “An Aphrodisiac for the Ages,” and it endures even today as an alluring flavor and scent for potential lovers. Back in the day, Aztecs used vanilla in religious ceremonies and as a love potion, sometimes mixing it with chocolate to create chocolatl. The Aztec emperor Montezuma was an aphrodisiac trendsetter; he is said to have consumed large amounts of this stimulating vanilla and chocolate marriage before having intimate relations, of which he had many. He allegedly had 100 children and 50 pregnant wives and concubines at the time he was captured.

Spanish conquistadors brought vanilla home to Europe from the New World, where men used it as a tincture to increase potency. Before long, European women were dabbing this enticingly sweet, woodsy-floral fragrance behind their ears. Vanilla’s enduring popularity (and perhaps its efficacy) is evident today in a vast array of products; you’ll find it a primary ingredient, often blended with other purported aphrodisiacs, in scented candles and massage oils, perfumes, teas, coffees, chocolates and baked goods. Modern medical research has shown that consuming vanilla increases adrenaline levels, a hormone that is naturally elevated when we’re excited. 

Touted as one of the world’s most powerful herbal medicines, the history of ginger dates back over 5,000 years. In ancient China, men ingested ginger to increase yang energy, or male strength, while in India it was relied upon for boosting passion. It’s been used as a libido stimulant for centuries in Eastern medicine. 

Ginger was used to ward off the plague in the Middle Ages; it became so popular that it was as standard on the medieval dining table as our salt and pepper is today. But ginger’s popularity declined in Europe as suspicion grew of its supposed magical properties and association with witchcraft. In 19th-century Britain, ginger was sprinkled in beer, creating the original ginger ale. The mistress of King Louis XV, Madame du Barry, is said to have served ginger to her lovers to help set a romantic mood.

Modern research has found that active ingredients in ginger, called gingerols, help to prevent abnormal blood coagulation, helping blood to flow freely and improving circulation, suggesting that ginger may help increase arousal and performance in both men and women. 

The redder the pepper, the hotter the sex… or so some people believe. To turn up the heat in the bedroom, cultures around the globe have historically relied on chili peppers. From soft-spoken poblanos and jalapeños to more aggressive habaneros and ghost peppers, the chili pepper in its many forms of fiery spices have became synonymous with hot sex, wild abandonment and impassioned love. 

Chili peppers do contain a well-documented heat-inducting compound, capsaicin, which creates a heat sensation that can improve blood flow and release endorphins. Research found that capsaicin may stimulate the brain's pleasure centers. One study found that men who preferred spicier foods had higher testosterone levels in their saliva, but this vein of inquiry did not prove a causal relationship between eating hot peppers and testosterone levels.

Though it was just a quickie, we hope you enjoyed our fun little romp through the history of aphrodisiacs. May melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-dipped strawberries also melt your heart and sensuous vanilla-scented candles glow brightly throughout the night, long into the wee morning hours….