Aphrodisiacs

An aphrodisiac is 'a food, drink, or other thing that stimulates sexual desire'. (Collins English Dictionary)

Before the eighteenth century, aphrodisiacs were seen as a way to cure impotence and infertility.Today, we associate aphrodisiacs with foods that enhance sexual pleasure, or elicit sexual desire. Until the 18th Century, a vast majority of aphrodisiac recipes were based on the works of a Roman physician, Galen. Within his theory he stated that foods qualified as aphrodisiacs if they were: 'warm and moist' and 'windy', as they produced flatulence. (Irish Independent)


Galen believed that 'wind' aerated the penis, which led to an erection. 

Foods that were known to produce gas, such as 'carrots, asparagus, mustard, nettles and sweet peas' (II) therefore qualified as aphrodisiacs. 

Potatoes and cocoa were originally seen as aphrodisiacs, as they were exotic. If foods were expensive or hard to obtain they were considered to be 'sexually exciting' (Web MD). 

Oysters are an aphrodisiac that have survived through time.

Even if you've never tried them, you've heard that they're meant to spice up the sex life.

According to Joan Smith, 'an oyster... belongs to that sub-group of crude comparisons inspired by an apparent similarity in shape or smell to the female genitalia' (87). Therefore, one argument for oysters being seen to enhance sexual desire is due to its similarities to the vagina. Furthermore, the term aphrodisiac derives from  'Aphrodite'. Aphrodite is the mythological Greek 'goddess of beauty, fertility and sexual love' (Collins English Dictionary) known for being born from the Sea, hence why sea food is  often connected with driving sexual passion.


 Adam Lusher of The Telegraph, states that scientists have proven that oysters really are aphrodisiacs. They found oysters to be ' rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones' (Lusher).

Apart from this recent study, there have been no others to explain why certain foods and drinks are seen as aphrodisiacs. Many foods that are considered to be aphrodisiacs contain a high content of salt, or zinc, which is known to increase the volume of semen. 

Celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal aimed to find the connection between food and romance. In Recipe for Romance Heston created a menu, shaped around aphrodisiacs  and tested it on several couples. Below is the trailer:

Heston came to the conclusion that there was little connection between food and passion. However, he did find that the exquisite food set a positive mood, which could follow with sexual behaviour. Couples became flirtatious and physical with one another towards the end of the night, with one lady stating: 'amazing food made me want to be more passionate with him', in reference to her husband. 

This shows that food may not be scientifically connected to sexual desire and pleasure, but mentally, as it changes one's mood, so behaviour.

Works Cited:

• Elaine Magee, RD. 'Aphrodisiacs: Fact Or Fiction?'. Webmd.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2015.
• Independent.ie,. 'A History Of Aphrodisiacs - Independent.Ie'. N.p., 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2015.
• Lusher, Adam. 'Raw Oysters Really Are Aphrodisiacs Say Scientists (And Now Is The Time To Eat Them)'. The Telegraph 2005. Web. 21 Mar. 2015.
• Smith, Joan. Hungry For You- From Cannibalism to Seduction- A Book of Food. London: Vintage, 1997. Print.