Aphrodisiac Food
If you’re looking for an aphrodisiac food, ignore your boudoir and peek inside your kitchen cupboard!
The best Aphrodisiac Foods
What could be more romantic than a mouth watering meal and a dedicated lover that knows how to make it special? This is a list of our best favourite aphrodisiac foods to make a tempting meal for your partner. I hope this list helps you choose your favourite foods for you and your partner's love life. And remember, It’s not just food, but also a gesture of love and appreciation.
See all our recipes and get ideas on how to use our libido boosting menus. Menus to enjoy and ensure a great love life!
These are foods that can help bring you success in love and foods that can even help you attract a mate. If you’re looking for a sexier love life, here is a great place to start, my favourite foods for love:
SEAWEED
This super food of the sea is a good source of manganese, a mineral known to help maintain a healthy sex drive. The very feel and aroma of certain seaweed is a sexual stimulant, it contains high levels of vitamins B1 and B2 - an aid in the production of sex hormones. Used in exotic dishes from Japan to the Caribbean it’s found most of all as a sushi wrapper. Bring your lover a dish of clams on a bed of samphire and bed might be the next place!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fine-Food-Specialist-Samphire-Fresh/dp/B004TXZYP0
CHERRIES
Cherries set the scene for a hotter sex life – pop one into your mouth, savour the musky scent, and roll it around and you’ll find they release sexual stimulants and certainly increase the appetite for love…as they say ‘loosing your cherry’ means making love for the very first time. Start your love making with a Cherry Amaretto Sour, take 10 pitted cherries, the juice of 3 lemons, Amaretto, brown sugar, bourbon, shake over crushed ice and finish with a slash of lemonade. Pop goes the cherry!
CHICKPEAS
Praise for the humble chickpea, which contains phytoestrogens known to increase sex drive and increase sexual sensation. Grown from Mexico to the Mediterranean these little chaps could increase testosterone levels and give you that bedtime boost your partner will adore. For a perfect bedtime snack make some hummus with chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini and spices served on heart shaped toasts – go on…
SWEET POTATO
Sweet potatoes for your sweetie pie – not only exceedingly tasty and versatile but rich in carotene which is a bonus for sexy girls.
The Sweet Potato Pie dish is a sure winner, packed with aphrodisiacs, mashed sweet potato, sugar, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon and gorgeous vanilla in a buttery pie crust with added spice and topped with whipped cream.
WINE
No doubt that many a bedtime romp has started with a glass of wine. The key is moderation and you’ll get all the erotic and sensuous rewards – it builds confidence and promotes sexy conversation. Red wine by candlelight is so very sexy, crisp dry white wine on the beach has equal effects. Experience shows that women get turned on by the musky aroma of Château Le Coin Sauvignon Gris white Bordeaux wines and men by more robust fruity Italian red varieties like Vajra Lagarbiana Barolo.
YLANG YLANG
This beautiful yellow star shaped flower is a must for the bedroom with scents of jasmine, banana, bitter orange, honey and spice.
In Indonesia these yellow flowers are scattered on the bed of newly married couples to enhance their love making. Ylang ylang will energise you during love making giving a more erotic and sensual experience when used as a massage oil. Add a few drops to a seafood ceviche with coconut chips…
TRUFFLES
Both the Marquis de Sade and Napoleon used truffles as foreplay to a night of sex, sharing them with their lovers watching the growing desire in their eyes. The very scent of truffles is an enticing aphrodisiac, seductive and sensual. Word has it that truffles make girls submissive rather than aggressive which can’t be a bad thing!
Next time your libido needs a boost cook some seafood pasta and shave Dirfis black truffles over it before serving. It will have a remarkably good effect…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truffles-Dirfis-Preserved-Truffle-Amazing
APPLES
‘An apple a day makes a girl want to play’ as the saying goes and it’s well known that apples can make a girl frisky. Eve’s fruit of temptation, a pink and delicious fresh apple from god’s orchard. Apples contain phloridzin, a female sex hormone - which plays a huge role in making girls juicy and promoting female sexuality. A great way to prove this is eating that classic dish Tarte tatin, warm circles of apple slices cooked in butter with a dollop of clotted cream just before bed time. Oh La, La!
CARDAMOM
Hailing from India, central Asia and the Middle East, this peppery, lemony spice has a sweet and erotic aroma and is claimed to be the worlds 3rd most expensive spice. A strong aphrodisiac as mentioned in the Arabian Nights famous collection of folk tales, which can be used in curries, mulled wine or the best rosewater and cardamom fudge. Just mix a few drops of cardamom oil into your bath and share this with your lover – bath time will never be the same, promise.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mystic-Moments-Cardamom-Essential-Oil/dp/B004PVPPQO
SALMON
There is a lot to say for salmon. Firstly its pink colour and soft flesh…! Secondly the salmon eggs known as Keta caviar make so many dishes sexy. Salmon is well known as an aphrodisiac due to being blessed with lots of nutrients, protein and vitamins A, D and B giving your libido a huge boost.
Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or honey, garlic salmon topped with Keta caviar and served with fresh asparagus or a red Thai salmon curry – any which way you are onto a sexy winner
ROSE
The rose is the flower of love and the symbol of passion and desire. We give roses as a love tribute, red roses symbolise lust and the scent is used in Carolina Herrera rose oil which when massaged in the ‘right’ places enhances female sexual desire and has proved to be a powerful sexual stimulant in men. Its aphrodisiac claims come from the fragrant molecule called indole which is the power in the scent. Just try Rosewater chicken with pomegranate and almonds, wrapped with flavour and rich in aphrodisiacs. Scatter rose petals on the table before serving this dish to your lover.
https://www.carolinaherrera.com/uk/en/p-fragrance/oil-of-rose
STEAK
We believe that the very site of a beautiful steak excites girls who somehow love to eat a big piece of meat. Red meat boosts our great mate dopamine – the feel good factor and contains zinc a’plenty which is known to increase sexual arousal in guys.
Turn down the lights, hear the sizzle as the Farmison rump pavé steak hits the hot coals, warm a cream, brandy and peppercorn sauce, serve the steak rare with a gutsy red wine and together you will ‘sizzle’ the night away.
https://www.farmison.com/products/32-day-dry-aged-rump-pave-steak?v=ITM104125
SANDALWOOD
The sweet aroma of sandalwood is enough to get anyone sexually excited – it’s well known as a natural aphrodisiac and could increase your desire for a good romp under the sheets. Not to cook with here but to use as a mood enhancing oil in either Indian Ayurvedic massages or in sandalwood scented candles. Known for its sublime and aphrodisiac properties use it in a full body massage for your lover.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Naissance-Indian-Mysore-Sandalwood-Essential/dp/B00TE7EQRI/
LIVER
Liver is a great source of testosterone so if your libido needs a little shove this will do it. Excite your lover with a simple chicken liver pate. Sauté shallots and garlic in butter with fresh thyme, rosemary and parsley, when cooked toss them into a bowl. In the same pan add more butter and a pack of chicken livers, cook until brown on the outside and pink inside and then flame in brandy. Let the livers cool then blitz everything together. Stir in whipped double cream and add a good spoon full of green peppercorns. Chill and feed to your lover on hot buttered toast.
MUIRA PUAMA
This is a must – known as the ‘Viagra of Amazon’ where it grows in the forests with delightful white flowers that smell like jasmine. This is a very effective aphrodisiac for both men and women. Get your hands on Rio Amazon Muira Puama from Rio Health and get on with it…
https://riohealth.co.uk/
CLOVES
Those cute little twigs have fantastic sexy properties and are used the world over as an aphrodisiac. Cloves are known to make you lusty, to boost sexual performance, increase testosterone and enhance your libido making you so hot in bed. Clove water is used for tightening the vagina and leaves a great scent to be enjoyed. To go the whole way cook a traditional lamb tagine, add finely sliced orange peel, Szechuan peppercorns, cloves and fluffy rice – perfect seduction…
PASTA
Come Fuck Me Penne à la Vodka was conceived by women in Manhattan. It’s made with pasta penne, butter, cheese, olive oil, basil, garlic & shallots, tomatoes and chilli. – a veritable feast of aphrodisiacs. Light candles and slip into something very sexy. Here is the recipe https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/come-fuck-me-penne-a-la-vodka-recipe. They claim 100% success in
GINKGO BILOBA
The leaves from this ancient Chinese tree had been used for medical and sexual stimulation for ever. They say it’s particularly good to boost the male libido as it contains our friend dopamine which dictates how we feel pleasure and has a positive effect on developing and maintaining an erection. Although used extensively in tea it also makes a very erotic pesto…
MACKEREL
Known as a natural viagra, mackerel is high in omega-3 which promotes dopamine – the same hormone that the brain releases during orgasm. It will help with getting a harder penis and feeling in the mood for lots of lovely sex.
Catch mackerel fresh from the sea and together build a wood fire on the beach, cook the mackerel with toasted Irish seaweed and then devour with good gulps of ice cold Muscadet et Sevre et Maine and hot horseradish dip – then make love on the beach as the sun goes down…
DEER ANTLERS
Strange as it may seem the soft velvet deer antlers which they loose as a natural progression are upheld worldwide as an amazing aphrodisiac due to them being rich in amino acids, hormones, and enzymes. The powdered food supplement gives fantastic strength and endurance in bed. There is a recipe for stewed bullwhip kelp and deer antlers with ginger, star anise, cucumber and onion but surely there is a better way with this aphrodisiac!
STAR ANISE
In days of Anthony and Cleopatra, girls would suck on aniseed to increase sexual desire – other things to suck on today which does the same trick! Star Anise is sweet and aromatic much like liquorice and is known to raise the libido especially in women due to an oestrogenic compound which creates a similar effect to testosterone. So girls mix up a Ginger, Star Anise and Orange Gin and Tonic and that’s what is called an aphrodisiac…
NETTLES
Now you wouldn’t expect stinging nettles to appear here would you? They have plenty of taste are full of vitamin C and high in protein and are a culinary delight. Believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac some religious orders were banned from eating them as it made them horny!
Nettles are perfect for making beer, soup, pesto and wrapped around grilled grey mullet. Treat nettles much like spinach to make nettle soup with scallops and horseradish.
YAM
Yams are used in culinary terms much like potatoes, they can be boiled, fried or roasted and have proved to be a great sexual booster. Also wild yam is used in creams to promote sexual arousal. Yam, yam…The purple yam is particularly good in desserts and puddings before the seduction begins!
PISTACHIO NUTS
These delicious little green nibbles have proved to increase male sex performance in bed. They contain the nonessential amino acid arginine, which helps with erectile function, better orgasms, greater sexual satisfaction and overall better sexual intercourse.
So a cocktail and a bowl of pistachios will definitely liven up the evening with lots of wonderful sex. Try these -https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roasted-Salted-Pistachio-Nuts-350g/dp/B0957YW3RF
MUSTARD
Mustard has been used as an aphrodisiac by the Greeks and Egyptians for centuries now including the modern French. The mustard seeds increase blood flow and in men this is a strong sexual stimulant. In gastronomic terms mustard is the balance between pain and pleasure in the mouth…wow!
Not only does mustard spice up your food it will for sure spice up your sex life – this is hot passion in a jar https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/pommery-extra-strong-mustard
TUNA
Serve this to your lover and you’ll see why tuna is a great aphrodisiac, enhancing and promoting a flirty mood and building sexual strength.
Take a tin of Albacore tuna in extra virgin olive oil, (Sainsbury’s sell a very good one) separate the layers, add chopped shallots, one chopped red chilli, some chopped chives, pink Himalayan sea salt, ground black pepper and finely chopped coriander. Mix together, spoon onto rustic toast quarters and top with wild Alaskan Keta salmon caviar. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alaskan-Salmon-Caviar-Xpress-del-orders/dp/B018STPF8G/
ICE CREAM
A visit to an ice cream parlour is a great idea for a first date. You can learn a lot about your new lover through ice cream. Is it the cold creaminess that swells into fountains of flavour in your mouth or is it the way you lick the sweetness from your lips? Anyway this is a great aphrodisiac.
Watch them devour some exotic cognac and blueberry ice cream – very adventurous or just cool creamy vanilla with their tongue running the length of the frozen delicacy. Mix ice cream with your favourite aphrodisiac fruit and hey…
PINEAPPLE
Fruits that are exotic like pineapple are often also erotic. Pineapple contains thiamine which provides the desire to engage in primal urges – always a handy one for a bedroom frolic. Lots of vitamin C in pineapples which are known as ‘the happy hormone’ and manganese celebrated for enhancing sexual health.
So lovers enjoy the Brazilian from the beauty studio but more enjoy this Brazilian BBQ pineapple – wedges of fresh pineapple coated in brown sugar and cinnamon hot off the grill.
OREGANO
Oregano is known as ‘the love drug’ due its ability to stimulate and boost energy and increase sexual desire maybe due to the vitamin E it contains.
Girls especially love the scent of oregano intoxicating their brain. Great to add to classic Italian dishes and when used dried its more potent and makes you want lots of lovely sex.
KIWI
Loaded with vitamin C this delicious fruit will lift your libido to a new level.
Start your erotic evening with a ‘Leg Opener’, a tequila and kiwi cocktail, shaken with lemon and mint and served over ice. Cheers!
LIQUORICE
Did you know that black liquorice is sweeter than sugar and that its scent can drive up our sex desire? Liquorice can increase the blood flow to the penis which is good news indeed! Check out https://myliquorice.co.uk/.
Make some warm liquorice sauce to pour over your lovers…maybe pudding, then lick it off.
GOJI BERRIES
These berries used as an aphrodisiac since time began are a great source of antioxidants which is very important to a great sex life Goji berries (available from Holland & Barrett) are bright red and as they say girls that eat red berries taste sweeter. In China these are a sexy supplement to both men& women and definitely a sexual tonic.
Serve your lover ‘jewelled rice’ sprinkled with Goji berries, stand back and get ready to rip your cloths off…
LAMB
Spring lamb, spring thoughts of love, walking hand in hand through fields of baby lambs – just heaven. In China, men believe that lambs kidneys are a strong aphrodisiac, enhancing sexual proves and ability. Lamb contains dopamine a natural chemical directly linked to motivation and pleasure.
Top tip here is a leg of local lamb studded with fresh garlic and rosemary and slow roasted – packed with aphrodisiacs and packed with flavour – works every time…
QUINCE
Here is one to try, quince marmalade wrapped in gold foil and eaten before sex will have amazingly good results – the Tudors and Stuarts swore by its erotic influence. This on not an aphrodisiac to be eaten raw – oh no, its hard white flesh is not palatable but when warmed up i.e. cooked, it turns a sexy pink ready to be put in a number of scenarios…Many believe that it was the quince in the Garden of Eden which attracted the lovers, Helen of Troy employed the quince to seduce Paris, her lover. For a sexy supper, make some membrillo (quince jelly) and serve it with thinly sliced rare meats and crunchy salad.
PUMPKIN SEEDS
They reckon that pumpkin seeds are better to promote great sex than Viagra. Pumpkin seeds are a natural, edible Viagra, inexpensive with no side effects except ‘pleasure’. Two tablespoons should do the trick if erectile dysfunction is a problem – better erections and they taste great too. Add roasted pumpkin seeds to a chicken curry or sprinkle over a colourful summer salad.
DUCK
Duck is a well known aphrodisiac, especially roasted duck legs or breast – these are two favourite erogenous zones for desire and sexual foreplay. Pick up a roasted duck leg in your fingers and nibble the sweet meat from the bone
Or if that doesn’t turn you on then roast duck breasts in a rich plum sauce of wine, shallots and plum puree, chop into bit sized cubes, roll the duck in the sexy sauce and feed each other with eyes closed…
GINSENG
Red Korean ginseng is considered the most powerful aphrodisiac. It’s one of the natural worlds best ‘Viagra’ and has been proven to increase the libido especially in men so enhancing sexual performance and improving erections.
So girls get yourself some fresh (not dried) ginseng and serve your boy friend or girl friend Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup) with sweet rice, dried jujube and ginkgo nuts – tried and tested
PAPAYA
What a great looking fruit to just hold to your mouth and bury your tongue in the luscious texture and dark rich seeds. Known when unripe as a strong female aphrodisiac and connected to love and romance.
Entice your lover to make love to you with papaya kebabs. Mix mash potato with grated papaya, add your favourite spices like coriander, fresh chillies or mint, some yogurt. Form into sausage shapes and roll on fresh bread crumbs, grill until golden brown.
SEA URCHIN
Sharing sea urchin with your lover is the best way to enjoy it. Usually eaten raw with crusty bread, it has 5 golden orange sections which are scooped out. It tastes like ‘sweaty sex’ you know that great taste when you kiss your lover after romping because you eat the sexual organ – the food of virility.
JASMINE
Pure white petals, the flower of love, and soft green leaves flouting with sexual possibilities – that’s Jasmine. An aphrodisiac that promotes sexual desire, intimacy, romance and physical love. The sweet, rich scent of Egyptian jasmine is the heart of Carolina Herra’s stiletto shaped perfume bottle. A must on any girl’s perfume shelf.
PEPPERMINT
What do your favourite after dinner mints taste of – yes peppermint, that pre-curser to bedroom fun and antics. Girls who put peppermint into their baths definitely take on a very sexy aroma. The aphrodisiac comes from the menthol which is naturally found in mint plants and will help boost male libido, and can prevent erectile dysfunction even increase penis size. Pass the Polo’s!
HORSERADISH
There is much belief that aromas are a huge sexual turn on – in that case horseradish must get the gold award. Eaten with fine roast beef or smoked salmon it suggests luxury and that can prove a highly seductive aphrodisiac food. It’s a fact that sex starts in the mind and works its magical way into your body. Think of horseradish, that great big, creamy, spicy root and that will surely make your eyes water in anticipation…
ABSINTHE
This anise scented bitter emerald green spirit has been the tipple of the Paris set in the 30s, artists, painters, poets and writers and of course Oscar Wild. Absinthe shared with a lover, sipped slowly will lull you into such a desperate passionate mood. Girls with girls, guys with guys all have a story tell about absinthe seduction This beverage contains ‘wormwood’ which it is said has ‘mind shifting abilities’ better go easy on this one.
SAFFRON
This is the most expensive ‘love herb’ but well worth the money. Not only does it spice up your cooking, it will also spice up your fun between the sheets. But first take a bath scented in saffron – Cleopatra used this before long love making sessions with her Roman. Used in cooking from the Mediterranean coast through the Middle-East to Asia, it is a formidable hero ingredient in this great summer salad - Indian Tomatoes with Saffron. A salad of cherry tomatoes, garam masala, turmeric, saffron, spring onions and olive oil – sexy, seductive and delicious.
OLIVES
Green olives are believed to make men more virile, while black olives are known for increasing a woman's sexual desire. What does the phrase ‘extra-virgin’ olive oil really mean? Dip pimento stuffed olives in melted chocolate and feed these ‘love bombs’ to you blindfolded lover. It may get a bit messy but who cares. In ancient Rome around what we now know as St Valentines Day, young Romans would get drunk and use animal hides to whip women they wanted for sex – it is also said that the women lined up for the punishment as they believed it made them better lovers. Time to rejuvenate this one!
MUSSELS
Eating mussels as a prelude to sex is a must – there is a proven link between mussels and sex - ask any beautiful young Greek you fancy! Mussels definitely boost libido with the sex hormone D-aspartic acid and like many similar sea foods are rich in zinc. Prepare a dish of fresh mussels steamed in garlic, parsley and white wine, finished with cream and chunks of crusty bread with a chilled glass of Pouilly Fume. Then conduct your own research into the link between sex and mussels and their desire inducing effect.
VANILLA
Vanilla has such a sexy scent, late night vanilla ice cream, the ‘porn star martini uses vanilla in its composition, vanilla scented candles definitely promote a sexual scene about to happen. Pop a few drops of vanilla essence into a hot shared bath and your sensuous inner desire will be awakened – promise. If you want a dish that’s exotic as well as erotic present your lover with a sharing platter of coconut vanilla prawns served with saffron rice.
That’s prawns cooked in vanilla, rum, coconut milk and thick cream. Wow!
GRAPES
Just imagine you are sitting under the shade of a palm tree on a soft lounger and your lover, kneeling beside you feeding you ‘grapes’. OK grapes have a
history going back to ancient Egypt. Imagine Cleopatra being fed grapes by Mark Anthony – oh la, la. To take grapes a stage further they make wine which has devout connections in every type and style of romance. Pour another glass and take her to bed - go on…
RADISH
If you need a little sexy romantic nudge then consider mixing radish with honey – it’s a proven oriental aphrodisiac. In Japan, radish served in many ways is considered ‘erotic’, its small nipple like red flesh with a crunchy spice taste certainly teases the taste buds and sparks arousal. It is, as we say, a sexually charged vegetable.
LOBSTER
The history of lobster as an aphrodisiac goes back to Greek mythology, but more important is that if your lover has either cooked lobster for you or treated you at your favourite restaurant – it has passion scored into its delightful pink shell. A favourite of Aphrodite, it certainly enhances lovemaking. Picture the scene, a barbeque on the beach, lobster bought from a local fishing boat cooked to perfection as the sun slides behind the billowing sails, he turns to you and cracking the shell with his fingers he feeds you – lobster, passion and then …
PEACHES
The beautiful vision of a peach and its cute bottom or pert cleavage is enough to class it as an aphrodisiac, however fresh peaches are believed to drive girls wild with passion, sweet, soft and delicious. The Chinese consider them a magical sexual foreplay and their powerful ingredients will increase sexual performance. On lazy summer nights serve your lover a chorizo, peach and mozzarella salad with a crème de pêche infused ice tea, lay back and let it happen…
LAVENDER
Lavender becomes a powerful aphrodisiac when cooked or used in drinks.
It’s aroma can drive men horny wild and it gives the girls a good sexy nudge as well. First make a lavender syrup by boiling lavender flowers with water and white sugar, let it cool and bottle it then make a sensuous lavender cocktail with home made lavender syrup, vodka and freshly squeezed lemon juice serve as a martini over crushed ice. Prepare tiny crisp lavender potatoes to serve alfresco with the martini and you’ll notice the twitching beginning in their knickers.
FLOWERS
Flowers often are an offering of sexual passion and intent – you know those 12 red roses mean more that they look… Edible flowers are very sensuous and will no doubt tickle your taste buds. Make an edible necklace to be nibbled with viola, nasturtium, corn flowers and geraniums. Scatter flower petals along the floor leading to the bedroom – then make your lover crawl along the line to find you – bring them on…
Courgette flowers or zucchini which sound just so much more sexy, can be stuffed with fish mousse and shared, or deep fried with tangy cheese while summer salads al fresco call out for fresh garden fruit and colourful edible flowers.
FENUGREEK
Fenugreek really improves testosterone levels in men and that means greater sex. This erect, strongly scented, robust annual, bush has been used as an aphrodisiac dating back to ancient Greece. Mediterranean women are known to use it to strengthen their sex drive.
Rustle up a hot and spicy Methi Merg Indian curry with chicken and fenugreek and watch the spices develop into ‘full of eastern promise’ romp.
FENNEL
This bulbous aphrodisiac contains phytoestrogens – the literal Greek translation of this word is a plant that creates sexual desire in women!!
If you are cooking get Florence fennel with its wispy fronds and celery like taste. Fennel oil is sweet and aromatic and great in a salad dressing.
Slip into something seductive and then barbeque smoked trout, with char grilled slices of fennel and a warm apple and beetroot sauce. Serve it on a blanket under the setting sun and wow…
FARRO
Used for thousands of years for its aphrodisiac properties and was the standard ration of the Roman legends that conquered the western world. Use pearled farro to make a farro and porcini mushroom risotto with wild thyme and fresh lemons. Serve in a large bowl with hot crusty bread and share with your lover.
CUCUMBER
Cucumber definitely plays a part in sexual arousal. According to Alan Hirsch of The Smell & Taste Treatment Research Foundation, women taking part in a 2006 study on arousing scents were most turned on by the smell of cucumber with black licorice. The shape and size can be quite useful too but don’t mistake this for something that needs batteries!
CREAM
Not an aphrodisiac by any merit of vitamin or mineral content, cream is here because it’s so useful in food sex play. If you can’t get draft a can of squirty whipped cream can be wondrous in the bedroom.
Apply a whipped cream bikini and a couple of Maraschino cherries and invite your partner to lick it off.
CINNAMON
Cinnamon and milk have been proved to have real sexual benefits. Ladies report a tighter pussy and longer enjoyment after drinking cinnamon milk. Alternatively a little drop of cinnamon oil on your genitals will be heaven scent.
Try a bowl of cinnamon porridge with fresh strawberries to set the scene for exciting Sunday morning sex.
BLACK PEPPER
This is the world’s most traded commodity which says a lot for it. Where would we be in the kitchen without freshly milled black pepper, the aroma alone is very seductive and for centuries the Arab culture recommended it for its lust inducing properties. As versatile as sex itself black pepper raises the game (and lowers the knickers) on fresh strawberries, the perfect steak au poivre or Pasta Carbonara.
APRICOTS
The golden, tender apricot had been known as an aphrodisiac for centuries. In the court of James I they were referred to as ‘apricocks’. Even Titania in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream fed apricots to Bottom to fancy her…
ANISEED
Aniseed is a sexually powerful herb according to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who recommended sucking the seeds to increase libido.
Try a shot of ice cold ouzo as foreplay or serve Prawns Sambucca.
ALMONDS
These crunchy nuts exude an aroma which is particularly arousing when toasted.
Known as an age old aphrodisiac, leading to a higher sex drive, these are the ones to plan in your menu whether they are whole, flaked, ground or even the essence. Watch their knickers slide down slippery thighs after feeding them layers of strawberries, acacia honey and home made almond ice cream topped with crumbled dark chocolate. Even a steamy bowl of creamy white almond soup will get the job done…
CHOCOLATE
The Aztecs called chocolate as the nourishment of the gods. All chocolate is good but dark chocolate, the king of aphrodisiacs, with a high cocoa content is what makes the magic happen more. Chocolate is the surest way to get into a better mood and contains substances believed to evoke the same reaction in the body as falling in love.
AVOCADO
The Aztecs allegedly called the avocado "ahuacuatl" - their word for 'testicle'... but if that doesn't turn you on (it doesn't do much for us either) avocados are at least a veritable treasure trove of vitamins and good stuff.
The flesh of the avocado is without doubt sensuous & silky but there are good things beneath that dark green skin. Avocados are rich in Vitamins E & B6
as well as potassium. All of these help relieve stress – always a good thing. They will also help you look good. High sterol levels in avocado oil help boost collagen production, keeping skin soft, supple & springy and lips plump & ready, Aphrodisiac Food indeed!
BANANAS
It’s all about the potassium. While the phallic shape may immediately fuel the passion, and that’s enough to get this fruit on the aphrodisiac list, the banana is also making an appearance due its levels of potassium and B vitamins which aid your sex hormone production and help deliver muscle strength, so in theory intensifies orgasm. Get your lover to undress one and then eat it! See what we mean by Aphrodisiac Food.
CHAMPAGNE
Champagne packs a poky punch of aphrodisiac trace minerals. These include potassium, zinc & magnesium, all absolutely essential for male & female sex hormone production. It is also said that the yeasty bouquet of dry Champagne accurately mimics the scent of female sex pheromones.
The ritual involved in serving champagne is testament enough. There is a pent up energy in the heavy reinforced bottle, a teasing provocation in the undressing & unwiring of the bottles phallic neck & bulbous cork. The release is either sudden with a foamy jet of excitement or controlled as the pressure is released with a sigh of anticipation. The choice is yours…
CAMEMBERT
The faintly mushroomy smell of a ripe Camembert is apparently stimulating to both sexes. Cheese boasts an array of goodies including one shortened to PEA which triggers the release of the pleasure – craving chemical dopamine. Some varieties contain as much a ten times that of chocolate Aphrodisiac Food indeed!.
Try a simple cheese fondue by baking it in the oven in its box. Here comes the sensuous bit. Dip in crusty bread and crisp fresh crudités – be careful not to drop anything in or you will have to pay a forfeit!
EGGS
Eggs are a storehouse of vitamins B6 and B5, which help to balance hormone levels, and also vitamin B12, which is key to healthy testosterone production. Little wonder they're traditional symbols of fertility and rebirth. Eggs can help boost libido in both men and women. A 2 egg breakfast provides an abundant quantity of good nutrition which will help to keep eyes bright, tails bushy & libidos alert & ready. Chicken eggs are said to be a good aphrodisiac food if eaten raw before sex – think mayonnaise or Zabaglione! Eggs a powerhouse of Hero Ingredients.
MACA ROOT & POWDER
MACA ROOT & POWDER
Known as the "Peruvian Viagra", the sex-enhancing power of this radish-like root is legendary in its native country and beyond. Cherished by the Incas back in the day and now used as dietary supplement around the world, a 1998 study by Pure World Botanicals found maca root to contain two unique compounds, macamides and macaenes, which are directly related to its aphrodisiac food effect - including a lift in energy and libido. It’s a good source of calcium, iron & zinc – wink, wink!
ANCHOVIES
The ancient Greeks used anchovies as an aphrodisiac increasing their potency by marinating them in white wine. Where would we be without Lea & Perrins Worcester Sauce – made from anchovies, go on add a bit extra.
They contain a high level of the B Vitamin – Niacin. This feeds the glands that secrete the hormones that make you firm & frisky for perfect pokey-pokey.
CAVIAR
Testosterone is great for your sex life - it makes both men and women more randy and sexually stimulated. Zinc, found in caviar, stimulates the formation of testosterone so it stands to reason that posh fish eggs are, in fact, an aphrodisiac food.
Not only is it packed full of nutritional goodies but also a whammy of amino acids, some of which act like a natural Viagra for more intense & longer orgasms in both men & women. It is a sensuous, silky smooth eating experience with a burst of the sea sensation.
The most famous & expensive (an aphrodisiac in itself) are the wild Beluga, Ossetra & Sevruga from the Caspian Sea.
PASSIONFRUIT
There are more than 500 varieties of this exotic aphrodisiac food, intriguing & mysterious little fruit that packs a surprising number of health benefits. It contains a high percentage of vitamins & minerals which among many other properties can help boost the immune system, improve eyesight & boost our old friend circulation – crucial. Drinking a glass of cold passion fruit juice helps to relax our nerves and has a calming effect on the mind.
PARSLEY
Parsley is known as a wonder herb and is one of the most nutritious herbs containing high amounts of vitamin A & C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and other essential minerals. Now that collection can certainly pack a healthy punch. It was used as far back as the time of Hippocrates as an Aphrodisiac Food (the father of modern medicine) believed to improve general health with aphrodisiac properties so its an all round good guy.
OYSTERS
Oysters are without doubt sex on a plate. They are probably the world's most well-known hero ingredients or aphrodisiac food and they've been top of the sexy food list since the time of the ancient Greeks. They're full of zinc which helps in the production of testosterone which not only acts on male libido but is also great for the female libido too.
The Romans were probably the first to delve into the delights of the oyster.
Ladies would dip oysters into honey before embarking on a night of lustful decadence. Not sure about the combo but it obviously worked for them
WALNUTS
In Rome walnuts were thrown at newly weds instead of rice. During harvest festivals in Rome maidens would offer bowls of nuts as symbols of fertility. These nuts have had a reputation as an aphrodisiac food for centuries.
In Italy and France walnuts are believed to intensify desire. Nuts in general contain high levels of fatty acids which are key to the production of hormones needed to maintain a healthy sex drive.
MANGO
The mango’s nutritional bounty of beta-carotene & vitamins C & E is responsible for its rich colour & addictive sharp-sweet flavour as well as its aphrodisiac food reputation. Mangos are rich in copper, a mineral necessary for the production of red blood cells & hence good circulation.
In India, where they produce a massive 13 million tonnes a year, it is believed that the mango tree can grant wishes & is a symbol of fertility & love and that the leaves bring luck at New Year & the fruit is the food of the gods. That’s good enough for us !!
OATS
This ‘morning after’ staple can also be your pre-bedtime fuel, high in testosterone boosting L- arginine and rich in B vitamins.
Oats are probably the humblest & heartiest of all the aphrodisiac foods. Oats thrive in a cool climate and cost very little, but don’t be misled. They have long been associated with virility & have been shown to free up testosterone in both men & women.
CARROTS
A great favourite of Venus, the Roman Goddess of love, “her pleasure and loves delight”. And just in case you get lost among the duvet or the Gods, it will help you see at night. Carrots are believed to be a stimulant to the male; the phallus shaped carrot has been associated with stimulation since ancient times.
ARTICHOKES
Artichoke is a ‘turbo charged’ aphrodisiac food, first among our hero ingredients.
The globe artichoke was praised as an aphrodisiac by the ancient Greeks. They believed that Zeus turned a former lover into the first artichoke plant – watch out girls!
Artichokes make for sexy eating, sucking the dipped leaves and finally discovering the heart hidden under the bristly choke
ONIONS
In France newly weds are given onion soup after their wedding night to restore their libido. Since pre-historic times onions have been considered aphrodisiacs. They are mentioned in many classic Hindu texts on the art of making love and were commonly used as an aphrodisiac food in ancient Greece.
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms contain zinc and zinc is key to blood flow – without blood flow you can’t have an orgasm, simple as that! Zinc has also been shown to boost SEX drive by increasing the flow of testosterone. Shitake mushrooms are used in the orient as they are believed to make girls more responsive…
THYME
Thyme is used widely in cooking in many areas of the world. The ancient Greeks used thyme in their baths and as incense In their temples believing that Thyme was a source of courage, so if you are a bit reserved or shy break the ice by sharing a Thyme bath – it works every time…
COFFEE
At the end of a perfect date you stand on your doorstep & think of mentally undressing each other for a night of hot lust but instead you say ‘how about a coffee?’ However coffee is on the aphrodisiac food list for its stimulating properties as well its power of suggestion.
BROAD BEANS
Broad beans are the main ingredient in the Egyptian national dish ful Mesdames and a key ingredient in the ubiquitous falafel. They are a good source of protein and iron and unlike other beans they contain the active amorous ingredient levodopa, a chemical the body uses to produce the feel good dopamine.
RASPBERRIES
Succulent red fruits are perfect to feed to your lover. It’s a fact that women who eat red berries taste better. In addition they are high in vitamin c, which may not turn you on but will certainly help you stay healthy.
GINGER
The flavour and heat in ginger comes from three oils – gingerol, shogaol & zingerone – great names! Ultimately through a biological sequence these can cause a warming effect that can become totally arousing. If you want to inflame your loins (and frankly who doesn’t) do as the Romans did … eat sweet spicy ginger before the orgy!
ROSEMARY
Rosemary is known not only for its intoxicating aroma but also the fact that its oil is an excellent physical stimulant. For the perfect Sunday slow cooked lamb studded with rosemary will do the business – who cares about Monday.
ROCKET
In classical myth rocket was sacred to the ever randy son of Aphrodite & Dionysis – best known for his large and ever ready erect member. It’s the hot peppery taste that does it by lifting the metabolism & dilating the blood vessels, and we know what happens next – rampant sex! Hero ingredients, rocket powered aphrodisiac food.
NUTMEG
Nutmeg can imitate the effects of serotonin otherwise known to us as the Happy Hormone allowing for greater relaxation and elevated moods – always a good way to start. Nutmeg was highly prized by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac food. A light sprinkling of the spice in a warm pumpkin soup can help perk up your sex life
MINT
Mint grows plentifully in any garden and is a wonderful aphrodisiac food. Mente, the alluring wood nymph whose name mint is derived from, is said to have seduced the god Pluto with mint leaves in ancient sexual rituals. Don’t hold back on the mint sauce…
HONEY
The Greek physician Hippocrates, who was one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine, prescribed honey for sexual vigour and encouraged the taking of milk and honey to induce love and ecstasy. Always keep a jar in your store cupboard to drizzle whenever and wherever you wish!
Try a glass of warm mead at bed time – wow… what Aphrodisiac Food!
BEETROOT
Ancient Romans used beetroot to improve their sex drive and the vegetable's libido-lifting qualities remain true to this day. Beets also have high levels of the trace mineral boron, which is directly related to the production of sex hormones. Since Roman times beetroot has been seen as a potent aphrodisiac food. The walls of the Lupanare, Pompeii’s brothel were adorned with murals of beetroot, bringing some colour to our hero ingredients.
GARLIC
Garlic is a pungent member of the lily family. It has been used as an aphrodisiac food by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Japanese – They can’t all be wrong!
A professor at USC Medical School has suggested mixing garlic with lard used externally to bring on an erection (Do not try this around a hungry Doberman!)
WATERMELON
When Baby talked about carrying a watermelon in Dirty Dancing, she perhaps wasn't aware of its sexual potency. Both the rind and flesh of this glorious fruit are packed with amino acid citrulline, which relaxes the blood vessels and increases blood flow to the genitals, in an effect similar to Viagra. In turn it can bring on erect nipples, sexual flush and a gun in the trousers in the words of Mae West.
PRAWNS
This perfect little pink crustacean is known to create sensual delights in heart & body. You may never have considered doing this but eating prawns in bed can help your staying power & is believed to give you mega orgasms. What’s not to love!
PINE NUTS
The Perfumed Garden has many references to this seed of the pine tree including this to restore a man’s libido. “A glass of thick honey plus 20 almonds and 100 pine nuts repeated for 3 nights” Good luck with that one.
TOMATOES
Originally known as love apples by the French, maybe it was the texture or just maybe that the acids they contain stimulate blood flow to the lips and mouth and can improve muscle control (!!) but whatever fresh, ripe tomatoes locally grown and eaten in season are a very seductive food to add to our list of Aphrodisiac Food hero ingredients.
STRAWBERRIES
Drop this luscious symbol of Venus into your champagne glass or dip it in melted chocolate…this little edible Valentine is sensual, sexy and we love it’s slut red, zinc loaded essential sex appeal.
ASPARAGUS
This powerful aphrodisiac spear not only looks phallic but contains Vitamin E which makes you gorgeous (think healthy skin, nails & hair). It is also packed full of goodies said to be hormone boosters and who doesn’t want that?
CORIANDER
As an aphrodisiac food this deliciously fragrant herb is famous for it’s mention in the “Arabian Nights” where it was used in a concoction to cure a merchant of impotence. The Chinese, the Greeks & the Romans all used it in their love potions so who are we to doubt it’s powers!
BASIL
The scent of basil has long been associated with arousal, with women rubbing basil powder and oil on their bodies back in the day to attract the guys. Granted, we’re more likely to pesto up a linguine with it these days, but the fact remains that basil is great in boosting circulation for a super-revved libido and its fragrance is a natural aphrodisiac.
CHILLIES
There’s a reason why red hot chillies have long been associated with a spicy sex life. The hot flavour comes from a massive dose of capsaicin, a chemical which releases mood-enhancing endorphins and increases blood flow and heart rate to stimulate nerve endings and can actually plump the lips. Forget the curry but instead try chilli in ice cream and chocolate brownies. Hot Aphrodisiac Food.
FIGS
This one’s for your partner - ask them to open a ripe fig and eat it seductively in front of you. This is supposed to be a powerful aphrodisiac food because the fruit’s insides look like a female love nest. Ancient Greeks celebrated fig harvests with an orgy. Good for them! Figs peeled and quartered wrapped in Parma ham – very sensuous on the taste buds.
POMEGRANATE
The seeds of this luscious red fruit improve blood flow and are said to increase genital sensitivity. Some say that the forbidden fruit referred to in the Bible wasn’t an apple at all but a pomegranate. The luscious fruit has long been considered a sensual symbol and with its antioxidant properties it increases vitality and is a very sexy food to share with someone you love. Scatter these hero ingredients like jewels over salads and meats.
SCALLOPS
Legend has it that the goddess Aphrodite was transported to earth on a scallop shell and since then scallops have enjoyed a gold star aphrodisiac reputation. The scallop is a frisky aphrodisiac food when cooked the right way, meunière, deep fried in golden breadcrumbs or wrapped in pancetta and threaded onto a skewer. King scallops for him and Queen scallops for her and you will both feel like royalty in a four poster bed. Their texture is soft and voluptuous on the tongue and their shells make beautiful serving dishes.
CELERY
Not a universally loved veg but apparently it gets women going. Granted it’s not the sexiest of vegetables, but raw celery boosts production of an odourless hormone released via male perspiration. This in turn is thought to act as a pheromone to turn women on. Something to bear in mind the next time you deliberate in the supermarket aisle...
