FOOD THAT GENERATES LOVE IN THE AIR, AND VEINS

 

What do banana, drumstick, and asparagus have in common? How are almonds connected to love and libido? How can strawberries enhance lovemaking? Isn’t that food for thought, especially as Valentine’s Day is around the corner?

 

Saint Valentine, after having martyred himself in the name of love, was laid to rest on February 14th.  A barren almond tree burst into bloom no sooner than he was buried next to it. Ever since then, almonds have stood for everlasting love.

 

When lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day; food and wine are a crucial part of the carousing. Instead of making it one of the conventional romantic dinners, why not prepare a meal with special food that is believed by mystics to generate love in the air, and veins? It’s not just almonds which brew romance; there are many food substances which are thought to be aphrodisiac in nature.

 

An aphrodisiac is a substance which is believed to increase sexual desire. Etymologically, the word is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sensuality, and love. Chef Nachiket Shetye adds, “It is believed in mythology that Aphrodite was the first goddess to experiment with different foods that she thought invoked passion, and happiness, hence the word ‘aphrodisiac’ was derived from her name.” According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite rose from the sea on an oyster, and gave birth to Eros. Oyster, the first aphrodisiac food, was thereby born.

 

Skeptics may wonder how aphrodisiacs actually work. Swati Prakash, Ascension Coach, and owner of a metaphysical store explains, “Nature has given herbs that can help us improve our lives when used in the right and balanced way. They can enhance our romantic life by working through our subconscious mind power. These have certain effects on our psyche that our conscious mind may not be able to comprehend, but they nevertheless work through our inner self.”

 

Some herbs, fruits, and vegetables have suggestive shapes to stimulate sexual desire. The phallic shapes of banana, drumstick and asparagus excite some people. As the ginseng root is shaped like a man with a male torso with two arms and two legs, it’s postulated that eating it will increase virility. The pomegranate fruit when cut into half, and laid out, resembles a juicy red heart. It’s thought to be the fruit of marriage, and fertility. Raspberries, and strawberries are described in erotic literature as fruit nipples; they are the perfect fruits to be handfed to your lover.

 

Eggs are believed to be the ultimate form of fertility. Caviar, these tiny egg pearls from the sea when combined with champagne (another aphrodisiac), gives the best result. Sipping champagne is considered to lower inhibitions, and embalm the body with warmth, enabling love-making to be more pleasurable.

 

Wine, like champagne, builds a highly romantic ambience, by relaxing our bodies, and stimulating our senses. Similarly, consuming dark chocolate helps to reduce stress. In fact, the belief that chocolate sparks passion goes back to the Mexican pyramids. Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 chalices of chocolate to prepare himself for his harem. Little wonder then as to why chocolate was banned from some monasteries centuries ago.

 

 

 

Another sweet aphrodisiac is honey. Chef Nachiket says, “Medieval seducers plied their partners with mead, a fermented drink made from honey.  Lovers on their ‘honeymoon’ drank mead as it was thought to ‘sweeten’ the marriage.”

 

Whereas some aphrodisiacs are easily available, others like the mushroom truffle are hard to find. It grows underground, and draws its nutrition from oak tree roots to produce androstenol, which is identical to a musky hormone found in mammals. Dogs are trained to locate them by smell, to dig them up to be used as aphrodisiacs. However, do have truffle mushrooms in moderation, to avoid the fate of an ancient lover who gorged himself to death on Alba truffles during his wedding feast.

 

Come bedtime, and cuddle with your beloved on a bed sprinkled with just a few grains of saffron. Roman families lavishly made a nuptial bed out of this golden hued spice to boost sexual prowess, please don’t cushion your bedding with such ample amounts like they did. Clink glasses of champagne with your lover as you come to a lip lock. That will however not be a good night kiss, but will surely lead to the most passionate lovemaking ever!

 

For more information on Chef Nachiket Shetye, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/chefnachiketshetye/

 

Linkedin page of Swati Prakash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swatiprakash/?originalSubdomain=uk