Aphrodisiacs & Love Potions

Aphrodisiacs, be they food, drink, perfumes or powders, have been used by both men and women to entice and arouse their partners (or potential partners) for thousands of years. I've always fancied aphrodisiacs, though I rarely have gotten (or needed) to use them in depth, though we all put them to use at some extent every Valentine's Day. Assorted chocolates... a glass of wine... a dozen roses... perhaps some oysters at a fancy restaurant?

According to tradition, aphrodisiacs should only be prepared and administered when the moon is either waxing or full. If used prepared or used during the waning phase, it may very well have the opposite effect. There is an extremely long list of foods and herbs commonly used as aphrodisiacs, ranging from asparagus, to garlic, to onion, to vanilla. Cayenne pepper, caviar, champagne... so many possibilities to explore. For now though, I'll stick with a few "normal" Valentine's Day recipes and potions.

Chocolate

Everybody in their right mind loves chocolate. But does it possess magical properties? The Aztecs believed so. In their time chocolate was a bitter and spicy ritual beverage. It was recognized as an aphrodisiac that bestowed both mental and physical vitality on those who consumed it. Following Cortez' conquest of Mexico, chocolate was exported to Europe, along with tales of chocolate's amazing ability to boost energy and enhance labido. The Europeans skipped the chilies and added sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, and served the drink hot. Drinking chocolate became fashionable and popular, even to the point that chocolate houses (much like coffee houses) were opened everywhere. Spanish women were said to have gotten into trouble for allegedly using this hot drink to cast love spells. Today we know that chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a stimulant similar to those released during sex.

My Favorite Chocolate Love Potion

      You don't need a lover to enjoy this love potion. While it works wonderfully to share a cup or two with a lover on a cold night, this potion can be enjoyed alone to "treat" yourself after a long day of work and chores. After all, you can't love another until you first love yourself!
     I have recently modified this recipe to include my new favorite hot chocolate powder, Dagoba's Xocolatl.

     1 cup coconut milk (or I prefer 1/2 cup half & half mixed with 1/2 cup water)
     4 Tbsp Dagoba Xocolatl
     1/8 tsp cardamom
     1/8 tsp vanilla extract
     1/8 tsp nutmeg

If you don't have Xocolatl, any hot chocolate mix or two-inch square of chocolate will work. Simply add to the recipe:
     1/8 tsp cinnamon
     1/8 tsp chili powder
     honey to taste (also an aphrodisiac)

Heat your liquid to steaming, stirring constantly, visualizing your intentions of love. Add your chocolate and spices, speaking or visualizing your intent. Gently stir in a clockwise rotation until it's all blended together. Serve in an attractive cup to your lover, or drink from your favorite mug. Your favorite spirits can be added to further spice up this potion. I recommend Chambord, but use whatever works for you (and your lover!)


Roses

Who doesn't love roses? They are, after all, the ultimate symbol of love and romance.
     Folk customs give different meanings to the different colors of roses. Giving roses of different colors has symbolic meanings. Red roses indicate passionate love or lust. A new suitor, however, may prefer to give pink roses rather than red ones. Red could imply he is assuming too much at the beginning of a relationship.
     Pink roses are great to give to friends or family for birthdays or other celebrations, as pink is the color of friendship. Some people prefer white roses and view them as spiritual, white roses being a symbol of piety. White roses also symbolize peace.

Rose Potion for Love   

1 heaping tablespoon of dried rose leaves OR

1 heaping teaspoon of dried and finely crushed rose hips.
(I prefer the rose hips.)

Pour your leaves or rosehips into a small cauldron or jug. Any vessel will do. Add one and a quarter cups of boiling water, and speak your wish for love as you stir your brew.

Cover tightly with a lid and infuse for 10 minutes as you visualize your intent. Strain into a teacup and sweeten with honey to taste.

Wine

    Wine, particularly red wine, is a common ingredient in a number of love potions. This is one of my favorite potions. The basic formula includes cardamom, cinnamon, coriander seeds, and licorace root.

Dreams of Delight Potion

     The aroma of simmering Dreams of Delight may be so inviting that drinking may not be necessary. Merely inhaling the fragrance with its subliminal message of love and seduction may be sufficient for the purpose.

Fill a pot with wine your favorite red wine. Sweeter wines typically work better.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of each of the dried botanicals and warm to a simmer. Stir gently in a clockwise motion, whispering your wishes into the wine. Do not boil.

When you feel the wine is full of intent, strain the solids out and serve the warm potion to the one you love.

Vanilla Wine Aphrodisiac

Vanilla is also a very potent aphrodisiac in both food and perfumes. This recipe is quite powerful for arousing loving feelings, so use it with caution. Of course more is not necessarily better, and too much may quickly deflate any potential desires, especially when served warm.

You will need:
One bottle of good red wine. Sweeter is better.
One vanilla bean
1/4 teaspoon ginseng root
A piece of rhubarb
2 cinnamon sticks
Cloves to taste
A sliced orange

Start by pouring the wine into a pot and heating gently. Scrape the vanilla bean with a pin and add it to the wine. Add the ginseng, rhubarb, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange. Let the potion steep, then strain through a fine seive. Serve as is, or place the strained wine back in the pot and heat to simmer.


Honey

As you can see, this sticky, sweet food is a common ingredient in love potions and aphrodisiacs. It's no coincidence that the romantic getaway after a wedding is called a "honeymoon" as mead was drunk by the newly wedded couple. It was said to boost labido. Since honey is rich in natural sugars and B vitamins, it aids neurotransmitters responsible for arousal.

Lavender too, is an aphrodisiac for many. It has been known throughout history as an herb of love. It stimulates the senses while simultaneously relaxing the mind.

Aphrodisiac Lavender Honey

1 cup of honey
1/4 cup fresh or dried lavender

Warm the honey in a double boiler. Add the lavender blossoms and heat gently. When the honey begins to bubble, remove it from the heat. (Don't let it scorch!) Let it sit for 30 minutes, then strain out the lavender. Use the honey while it's still warm.

Lavender does have the opposite effect on some people, working as an anaphrodisiac, dampening sexual desire rather than enhancing it. You may want to test how this herb affects you and your mate before using it for the first time.