Food and Drink
There is a strong connection between food and love. Both can be extremely sensual experiences. John Keats (1795–1820), the English poet, used the metaphor of food to describe Porphyro and Madeline’s lovemaking in his famous poem, “The Eve of St. Agnes.” Strong feelings of love and desire are often described in terms of physical appetite, which may or may not be fulfilled. Preparing food for a loved one has significant romantic associations, while sharing food can be an intimate and arousing experience.
Certain foods, known as aphrodisiacs, are believed to enhance the sexual appetite. Garlic, oysters, and truffles are the best known. However, the oldest aphrodisiac of all must be the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The Bible explains what happened to Adam and Eve after they had eaten it: “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). John Milton described this scene in much greater detail in Paradise Lost:
But that false fruit
Far other operation first displayed,
Carnal desire inflaming. He on Eve
Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him
As want only repaid; in lust they burn.
The ancient Greeks and Romans knew their gods consumed ambrosia and nectar, the food and drink of the gods. This not only kept them forever young, but also enabled them to enjoy constant sexual activity.
Asparagus
Asparagus was recommended as an aphrodisiac in The Perfumed Garden by Shaik al-Nefwazi, a famous sixteenth century Arabian book on sexual lore. Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654), the English astrologer and herbalist, wrote: “(asparagus) stirreth up bodily lust in man and woman.”
Beans
St. Jerome banned beans from nunneries, as he thought they would inflame the passions of the nuns. Pythagoras would not allow his followers to eat beans either, for the same reason. Broad beans were considered an aphrodisiac in Italy, but they had to be young and fresh.
Celery
During the Middle Ages, celery was used as a charm to produce boy babies. The celery had to be secretly placed under the bed of a pregnant woman. If the first name she spoke after this had been done was that of a man, she would produce a boy.
In the eighteenth century, celery soup was believed to have aphrodisiacal qualities.
Champagne
Any wine, in moderation, can have an aphrodisiacal effect. However, the drink that symbolizes love and romance more than any other is champagne. Everything about it, from the pop of the cork to the bursting of the bubbles in the mouth, is romantic, making this the drink of choice for any special occasion. Champagne also has an immediate effect, as the bubbles allow the alcohol to enter the bloodstream easily.
Chocolate
Chocolate has been considered a symbol of love and romance for hundreds of years. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, an endorphin that provides energy and creates feelings of joy, happiness, and euphoria. As levels of phenylethylamine in the brain increase when people fall in love, it is not surprising thatpeople enjoy consuming chocolate to briefly recapture these feelings.
About three thousand years ago, the Olmec people lived on the Gulf of Mexico. As their language included the word “cacao,” it appears that they were the first people to cultivate the cacao tree and consume chocolate.66
When Hernán Cortés (1485–1547) and his men landed in Mexico in 1519, they found the Emperor Montezuma II and his subjects drinking xocolatyl, a mixture of seeds from the cacao tree, pepper, and corn. The Aztecs considered chocolate to be both a spiritual aid and a powerful aphrodisiac. Although the emperor always drank xocolatyl before visiting his harem, it was far too bitter for Cortés and his men. Nuns discovered it made a pleasant and invigorating drink when mixed with vanilla and sugar. However, it wasn’t long before the clergy were advised not to partake of it. In The Food of the Gods, Brandon Head wrote: “(chocolate was) a violent inflamer of passions, which should be prohibited to the monks.”67
Despite protests from people who thought chocolate would mark the end of civilization, chocolate houses became popular all over Europe in the seventeenth century. Princess María Theresa, who married King Louis XIII in 1660, said: “Chocolate and the King are my only passions.”68 I find it fascinating that she placed chocolate before her husband.
Figs
The fig has always been considered a sensual fruit. In China, it was given to young lovers to symbolize the pleasures of love. The Greeks dedicated it to love and believed it increased fertility. Figs contain potassium, which explains why the fig has an aphrodisiacal effect.
Garlic
Garlic, like onions, is an effective aphrodisiac only when both people consume it. Garlic has numerous health benefits, including purifying the blood and increasing stamina and energy. These benefits may have helped garlic achieve such a high reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Honey
The ancient Egyptians used honey as a remedy for a variety of different ailments. They also used it as a source of instant energy. Sweetmeats made from honey were popular in Arabia, as they provided lovers with additional energy. Honey also reverses some of the effects of alcohol, making a honey-based sweet the perfect dessert after a romantic dinner.
Onions
The ancient Romans thought the entire onion family possessed aphrodisiacal qualities. Martial (c. 40 C.E.–104), the Roman poet, is best known for his twelve books of epigrams, which include: “If your wife is old and your member exhausted, resort to the humble onion.”
Oysters
In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, came from the sea on an oyster shell. No wonder the oyster has always been considered an aphrodisiac. In fact, Roman emperors thought oysters were so effective in this regard that they were prepared to pay for them by their weight in gold. According to his Memoirs, Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798), the famous adventurer whose name is synonymous with seduction, consumed fifty raw oysters every morning. He did this while enjoying a bath with the lady he had seduced the previous evening. Oysters contain zinc, an element that increases testosterone production.
Potatoes
It is hard to believe today that the humble potato was once a symbol of love, and consumed for its apparent aphrodisiacal effects. In the sixteenth century, people believed that potatoes would restore the virility of older men. William Shakespeare alluded to this belief in The Merry Wives of Windsor when he had Sir John Falstaff say: “Let the sky rain potatoes” (Act V, Scene V). As potatoes became more readily available, this belief disappeared.
Strawberries
Strawberries have always symbolized eroticism and sexual pleasure. This may be because they look like nipples, but is more likely to be because of their juicy sweetness and texture.
Truffles
The truffle is a fungus that grows on the roots of trees. The ancient Romans were extremely fond of it, because of its aphrodisiacal qualities. Giacomo Casanova used truffles as an aphrodisiac. King Louis XIV of France was reputed to eat a pound of truffles a day. Napoleon Bonaparte also remained virile with a regular supply of truffles. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755–1826), the French politician, author, and arguably world’s greatest gastronome, interviewed many people while researching the aphrodisiacal effects of the truffle. He discovered that the truffle awakened “erotic and gastronomic ideas both in the sex wearing petticoats and in the bearded portion of humanity.”69 M. Brillat-Savarin devoted six pages to truffles in his book, La Physiologie du gout,70 which is full of delightful anecdotes, including one about a hostess who narrowly escaped being ravished after serving a hen stuffed with truffles to a male guest.
Vodka
Alcohol is a form of anaesthetic that dulls the higher nervous centers removing inhibitions, good judgment, and fears of any consequences in the process. It is not a stimulant, and certainly does nothing to enhance sexual performance. As a result, although alcohol is frequently associated with love and romance, few alcoholic beverages can claim to symbolize these things. Vodka is one of them.
Vodka has become a sophisticated symbol of love because of its clear, pure taste. A toast of vodka between two people who care for each other can be a powerful symbol of their love and passion. However, it is still alcoholic, and moderation is required.
Gwen’s Experience
As Gwen is a gourmet chef, I was not surprised to learn that she chose food as her way to restore her relationship. She was eighteen years old when she married Harry. They had been married for thirty years when I first met them. At that time they were, as Gwen put it, “Buddies, not lovers.” “He’s my best friend,” she told me. “I love him dearly, and I know he loves me, but our love life is dismal. It’s sad, because it used to be fantastic.”
“Have you discussed it with Harry?” I asked.
Gwen shook her head. “He won’t talk about it. The last few times we tried were failures, and I think he’s worried about it. He always goes into himself when things aren’t right.”
“How about a romantic evening?” I suggested. “Good food, wine, candlelight, soft music, and anything else you can think of.”
“No, no,” Gwen said. “Harry would see right through that.”
“Is there a special occasion coming up? You could use it as an excuse for a celebration.”
Gwen shook her head. Then she paused for a few seconds, gazing upwards. A look of mischief crossed her face, and she laughed. “You know, we’ve no celebrations for a while, but you’ve given me an idea. I’ll let you know how we get on.”
As Gwen and Harry were obviously still in love, I did not worry about them. However, I was delighted to hear from Gwen a couple of months later.
“How are you getting on?” I asked.
“Wonderful, thank you,” Gwen replied. “I started thinking about foods that supposedly spiced up your love life. Oysters and things like that. Then I thought of something even better. I started cooking Harry all his favorite foods. No candlelight, no music, and just a bit of wine. He started becoming a bit more affectionate after the first meal. However, it took a week before there was any action. That was good for both of us. Then nothing for another week or so. It took time, but now we’re enjoying a good love life. Thanks for your suggestion.”
“It wasn’t me,” I said. “I suggested you add all the trimmings. You did none of that, but you’ve certainly proved the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I think all food is a symbol of love. First, I choose and buy the food. I bring it home and prepare it. Then I serve it. That’s all done with love. We eat it together, and then we wash up. That’s love, too, as we’re spending quality time together. What do you think?”
66. Christine France, The Chocolate Cookbook (London, UK: Lorenz Books, 2002), 8.
67. Brandon Head, The Food of the Gods (London, UK: R. Brimley Johnson, 1903), 28.
68. Princess María Theresa, quoted in The Chocolate Cookbook by Christine France, 13.
69. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, quoted in The Charms of Love by Edward S. Gifford (London, UK: Faber and Faber Limited, 1963), 180.
70. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, La Physiologie du gout (Paris: self-published, 1825). An English translation was published in 1960 as The Physiology of Taste by Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (London, UK: Constable and Company, Limited).