APHRODISIAC  FOODS - The Food of Love

When planning your seductive evening a deux,  don't overlook the importance of romantic aphrodisiac foods! Throughout time and across many different cultures, certain foods have emerged with a reputation for being aphrodisiacs. The ancient Greeks wrote the first records of foods having aphrodisiac qualities and folklore, passed down from generation to generation, has recorded many mysterious powers attributed to foods.

Once you have decided on your key ingredients for seduction (see below), minimize preparation time and keep it simple - the trick is to make everything ahead of time then appear to prepare everything before his eyes in seconds (whilst looking gorgeously unfrazzled, of course).  Another trick is to ensure that at least one course is eaten with fingers, a good choice would be chocolate-dipped fruit for dessert.  Seafood, mousses and exotic fruits, accompanied by chilled champagne make the romantic aphrodisiac dinner an event. Do something so incredibly special for your lover - that will never be forgotten!  

Almonds : Almonds were regarded as fertility symbols throughout antiquity.  The aroma of almond supposedly arouses passion in females - or so believed the poets and scribes!  Alexandre Dumas dined on almond soup every night before meeting his mistress and Samson wooed Delilah with these tasty nuts. ___________________________________________________________________

Avocado : Avocados are volumptuous and feminine shape, but they have also been associated with male sexuality.  The Aztecs called the avocado tree 'Ahuacuatl' or 'testicle tree' (they thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled the male's testicles).  The Spanish found avocados so obscenely sexy, the Catholic priests forbade them to their parishioners. ___________________________________________________________________

Bananas : With its rich, smooth taste and its clearly phallic shape, its no surprise that the banana has long been considered an aphrodisiac food.  Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins, two necessary components for sex-hormone production. ___________________________________________________________________

Caviar : Caviar is high in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone and the eggs are a symbol of fertility.  Beluga Caviar is the best (and most expensive) and best enjoyed shared with well chilled vodka or champagne!. ___________________________________________________________________

Chocolate : Who doesn't appreciate chocolate as an aphrodisiac food!  It contains a stimulant which gives you a sense of well being and excitement similar to the natural high that endorphins give us.  There are more antioxidants in chocolate than in red wine and combining the two could just be the secret to passion! ___________________________________________________________________

Cinnamon : Among the spices considered useful for producing 'heat' within the body, cinnamon has been measured to increase both physical and sexual appetitie. ___________________________________________________________________

Figs : Said to be Cleopatra's favourite food, the sweet, purple fruits are sexy in both appearance and texture.  For obvious reasons, Figs have been a synonym in erotic literature for the female sex organs.  To the ancient Greeks, they were 'more precious than gold' and they would celebrate their harvest with orgies. ___________________________________________________________________

Honey : Sweet, sticky honey is the main ingredient in mead, used by medieval seducers to lure their conquests into romantic rapture.  Newlyweds would drink mead as part of the marriage feast, giving rise to the term 'honeymoon'. ___________________________________________________________________

Nutmeg : Chinese women believed that nutmeg was an aphrodisiac food that that it increases sexual desire, thereby contributing to procreation during fertility.  A hallucinogenic effect can be produced by large quantities of nutmeg. ___________________________________________________________________

Oysters : These mouthwatering mollusks are the classic aphrodisiac.   Raw oysters are very high in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production, thus increasing libido, which may explain why Casanova ate 50 raw oysters a day!  Oysters also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered to increase one's overall well-being and even fight depression. ___________________________________________________________________

Ladies, you could spend hours in the kitchen lovingly preparing a romantic meal for your lover, alternatively you could call upon Banquet in A Box and arrange for a fully prepared, gourmet meal, with luxurious accompaniments, to be delivered straight to your door.  Simple to prepare, just re-head and serve, giving you extra time to pamper yourself and look truly gorgeous!