PrintOysters. Strawberries. Alcohol. It’s that time of year again, and as Valentine’s Day approaches, college kids across America are looking for the perfect way to woo that special someone. Dinner and a movie or a romantic carriage ride through Central Park are classics, but for the real topper to an amorous night—try experimenting with some aphrodisiacs to get you both in the mood.
Aphrodisiacs are foods, drinks, or aromas that arouse sexual desire. The term derives from “Aphrodite,” the Greek goddess of sensuality and love. The belief in arousal-heightening foods has been around for centuries; experts often prescribed aphrodisiacs to cure erectile dysfunction or to increase fertility. Today, aphrodisiacs are used less as treatments and more as enhancers or supplements. They include a correspondingly broader range of food and beverages.
In the college taxonomy of alcohol, wine is the “romantic” and “adult” alternative to Natty Light. Like most alcohol, a small glass of wine makes you less inhibited and can also sharpen your senses. However, unlike liquor, the often thick and robust flavor of wine coupled with its bouquet becomes almost erotic. Perhaps a smooth glass and a romantic dinner is all you need to send the sparks flying. So if you haven’t dined in at Campo recently, bring your sweetheart along to take advantage of their half-priced bottled wines.
Another popular aphrodisiac that few can refuse is chocolate. Whether it’s a candy bar or a fudge sundae or even fondue, few can resist the delectable temptation of chocolate—and it’s no wonder why. Chocolate contains natural caffeine from its cacao origins, and also increases levels of serotonin and phenylethylalanine in the brain. This in turn affects the pleasure sensors in the brain, including the ones activated during sex, which can leave you feeling giddy and lustful. Better yet, chocolate is better when shared, both for the sexual tension it can build, and so you’re not left shoveling down caloric truffles that you might later regret. Try a frozen hot chocolate over at Serendipity or a local sundae at Tom’s.
In addition to aphrodisiacs adhering to the typical definition, there are also those foods which may be considered aphrodisiacs because of their resemblance to male and female genitalia. Bananas are probably the first fruit that comes to mind due to their long, phallic shape. Yet, more than this, bananas also contain B vitamins, potassium, and other minerals which are necessary for the production of sex hormones in both sexes and which can also enhance male libido. Unpeeling a banana will cure any case of sang-froid.
Oysters also fall into this category, as they are sometimes seen to resemble female genitalia. Oysters have been considered aphrodisiacs, say some sources, since Ancient Rome. Some consider this food a necessary addition to a lustful evening. Rich in various amino acids and vitamins, oysters are a low-cal healthy option. And if you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of Casanova, head over to Aquagrill, where their motto is “Eat oysters and love longer.” Aquagrill manager Oz claims that “it’s scientific proof that oysters are an aphrodisiac.” When asked if he sees an increase in those myth-believing customers around Valentine’s Day, “Probably that is the reason; we have the largest selection in New York City, and that fact combined with the renown of aphrodisiacs makes Aquagrill unmatchable.”
As the myth of aphrodisiacs has gained cultural capital, the number of foods included within the category has grown significantly larger, counting common foods as almonds, coffee beans, garlic and vanilla, and reaching as far as asparagus, avocados, figs, honey, pine nuts, and for the fine-diners, truffles. For those wanting to venture further out, Kee’s Chocolates in SoHo is rumored to have the best-tasting truffles in all of New York City.
The myth surrounding the aphrodisiacs has persisted for millennia, and will probably survive into the foreseeable future. The truth is that numerous studies have been done by an array of scientists, only to come to the conclusion that there are no foods that have been proven to guarantee arousal. In that way, it’s kind of like the placebo effect. If we continue to believe that all of these foods, drinks and scents will truly heighten our sexual experience, it is possible we can just trick our mind into producing the desired effects. Who was it that said if you can believe it, you can achieve it?