THE WORLD OF Aphrodisiac Foods

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THE WORLD OF
Aphrodisiac
Foods
Some ingredients are said to arouse more than just the tastebuds. But are these foods of love
based on science or psychology?
Text by Tiffany Chan, photos by Samantha Sin
Special thanks to Christian Louboutin, Great, Indigo, J.Crew, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade New York, Lane Crawford, Lanvin Timeless,
Russian Caviar House and Sabatini Ristorante Italiano
L
et’s be frank, people have been
enjoying sex for a very long time.
We celebrate our love lives most
in February, the month of romance. It’s
not all hearts and flowers, but food too.
Every Valentine’s Day, the internet is
clogged with endless lists of aphrodisiacs
– foods that supposedly enhance sexual
desire – and restaurants all over the world
unveil aphrodisiac-inspired menus.
Aphrodisiacs are as old as civilisation
itself. They are named for Aphrodite, the
ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty.
In ancient cultures, human fertility was
a moral and religious expectation and
certain foods were sought after to help
maintain the body’s relevant functions.
There are several categories of aphrodisiacs,
says Dr Dolores Lamb, director of the Center
for Reproductive Medicine and professor of
Urology and Molecular and Cellular Biology at
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
“There are foods where the shapes are
reminiscent of sexual organs – asparagus,
celery, onions. Other foods have shapes or
textures that are thought to underlie their
aphrodisiac qualities [oysters and clams],”
she explains. “There are also foods that
are stimulatory to our senses [peppers],
which stimulate an endorphin release in
the body resulting in sensory changes,
increased heart rate and sweating.”
Countless studies reveal the vague
potential benefits of aphrodisiacs. Lamb
says that, scientifically, very little is known
about the control of sexual motivation and
desire, but in the case of human sexuality,
the psychology is perhaps more relevant.
“In general, there are no evidence-based
medicine studies that compellingly show
foods have aphrodisiac properties,” she says.
“While scientists may discover the molecular
factors regulating sexual motivation in the
future leading to pharmacologic interventions,
clearly there are personal, human issues at
play that transcend molecular biology.”
Sexual motivation seems to be primarily
psychological. Hong Kong-based
psychotherapist Nikki Green says the
mind often gets in the way of science,
which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“It makes a lot of sense when you think
about how our bodies work, what foods are
rich in what, and how that affects our bodily
functions,” she says. “But it’s important
to recognise the mind is a powerful thing.
There’s a placebo effect, so if somebody
has oysters and thinks they’re going to
become a better lover, then who cares?
That, in itself, is a wonderful thing.”
While Green has never recommended a
diet of specific foods to her clients seeking
sex therapy, she says food and sex are
intrinsically linked, and often suggests
starting a night of sexual exercises by
eating something light and delicious.
“There is something very hedonistic about
food and sex. Sometimes, when I’m giving
couples some homework on how to jumpstart
their sex lives, part of it will be producing
a lovely little meal, very light of course,”
she says. “It’s about spoiling yourself
with something delectable and beautiful
that will make you happy, and a way to
reintroduce the eroticism of the body.”
Chefs are keen on celebrating romance in
the form of aphrodisiac-inspired menus.
Among them is Jaako Sorsa, group
executive chef of GR8 Leisure Concept.
His Valentine’s Day menu at Café Roma
this year includes foamy smoked oyster soup,
grilled codfish fillet and scallop crusted with
almonds, and raspberry chocolate mousse cake.
“A Valentine’s Day menu should be filling,
but not so much that it leaves guests
feeling stuffed afterwards, so the night can
continue,” he says. “I like the idea of gentle
techniques, like poaching, lightly marinated,
gently seared. Absolutely no ingredients
that result in smelly breath. The dishes
should also be designed so they are easy
to eat, such as nice spoonfuls, so the
conversation is easy and smooth during
dinner, especially for first dates.”
The environment is important too, he says.
“It’s not just the food, I think, but it’s those
romantic moments: you choose somebody special
to have dinner with. For me, I like the idea of
snacking on oysters, dipping poached and grilled
asparagus in hollandaise sauce, feeding each
other, enjoyed with lots of champagne and finish
with dipping strawberries in chocolate, somewhere
warm by the beach, pool or in a Jacuzzi.”
Indeed, the search for a magical sex potion
or natural elixir is seemingly endless. Lamb
says there is a clear distinction between
aphrodisiacs, which increase sexual motivation
and agents that help performance.
“Although pharmaceutical agents such as
Viagra are helpful for some types of erectile
dysfunction and are frequently called
aphrodisiacs, they impact performance
rather than sexual motivation,” she says.
“The person-to-person basis for sexual attraction
and motivation will be difficult if not elusive to
define on the molecular basis – and isn’t this
how it should be? We all know couples
where perhaps we can’t see what lights
their inner desires for each other – but
they know and that is all that matters.
From left: Fuchsia strass and metal bracelet $17,100 from Lanvin Timeless; Cosma glitter fabric champagne clutch $10,100 from Jimmy Choo; Kimura flower print heels by
Paul Andrew $5,100 from Lane Crawford; pillar candle holder by Astoria $229, gold and white creamer set $299 and vintage cake server $379 all from Indigo; Decollete
554 high heels $6,000 from Christian Louboutin; Nickle wine goblet $299 from Indigo; square crystal necklace, price on request from J.Crew.
64
THE WORLD OF
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4
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12
3
11
1
6
7
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1. Artichoke
2. Pomegranate
3. Asparagus
7. Honey
8. Vanilla
9. Avocado
In Greek mythology, Zeus turned a woman
into an artichoke after she rejected him.
Tough on the outside and soft on the inside,
they symbolise the idea of playing hard
to get.
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was
said to be the first to plant a pomegranate
tree. Because of their many seeds,
pomegranates are often associated with
fertility and abundance.
The asparagus is considered an aphrodisiac
because of its shape. French couples once
dined on three meals of asparagus on the
day before their wedding to increase their
libido ahead of the big night.
While the origins of the honeymoon are
unclear, it could stem from an ancient
tradition – possibly from northern Europe or
Babylon – that involved newlyweds drinking
mead, fermented honey wine, every day until
the first moon of their new union.
With its shape resembling female genitalia,
Europeans claimed vanilla as an aphrodisiac,
telling stories of how it can transform the
ordinary man into a wonderful lover.
The Aztecs called the avocado the
“testicle tree” because its fruit hang in
pairs. They were so convinced of the fruit’s
aphrodisiac properties that virgin women
were not allowed to leave their houses
during the avocado harvest.
4.Almonds
5. Caviar
6. Figs
10. Aniseed
11. Radish
12. Truffle
Greek and Italian newlyweds hand out
sugarcoated almonds to represent the
bittersweetness of life and in odd numbers
to indicate the couple cannot be divided.
Superstition has it that if a girl places an
almond under her pillow, she will dream of
her future husband.
Caviar is sturgeon roe and, like bird’s
eggs, it is associated with new life. Caviar
was a symbol of fertility for many ancient
civilisations. The black pearls bursting
against the tongue produce a tactile
sensation that many consider erotic.
An open fig is thought to resemble female
genitalia and is a symbol of fertility and
sexuality. Some biblical scholars say the fig
rather than the apple was the forbidden fruit
that tempted Adam and Eve, who made
clothing from fig leaves. The ancient Greeks
also considered the fruit a symbol of love and
celebrated new crops with a sexual ritual.
Ancient Greeks and Romans suggested
sucking the seeds from the powerfully
flavoured fruit to increase the libido.
In ancient Rome, the god Apollo was said to
have left a golden radish at the site of the
Oracle of Delphi (the temple whose priestess
was believed to make prophecies). In Japan,
the radish is also considered erotic.
Throughout history, truffles have been
nicknamed “diamonds of cookery” and
“testicles of the earth”. Napoleon was said
to eat truffles to increase his masculine
capabilities. The scent of truffles is also
similar to male pheromones.
From left:
Decollete 554 high heels $6,000 from Christian Louboutin; martini glass by Krosno $325 from Indigo; clutch $3,600 from Kate Spade New
York; nickel wine goblet $299 from Indigo; Iriza strass high heels $29,500 from Christian Louboutin; ceramic silver lotus $629 from Indigo.
From left:
Nickel wine goblet $299 from Indigo; Cosma glitter fabric champagne clutch $10,100 from Jimmy Choo; short stem fuchsia peony $149 from Indigo;
Iriza strass high heels $29,500 from Christian Louboutin; gold and white creamer set $299 and pillar candle holder by Astoria $229 both from Indigo.
From left:
Artichoke $15.8/100g, pomegranate $18.1/100g, asparagus $22.8/100g, Thailand asparagus $27.4, almonds by Superfood Labs $55 all from
Great; classic Russian caviar 20g $315 from Russian Caviar House.
From left:
Organic pure honey by Glenugie Peak $86.5, vanilla pods by Waitrose $86.5, avocado $48.8/each, pink radish - France $26.8/100g, organic fennel
seeds by Crazy Jack $25.9 all from Great; truffles from Sabatini Ristorante Italiano.