Monthly Flavors for February – That’s the Way Love Goes

Happy February! Even though Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the month, it definitely dominates. Chocolate and love are on everyone’s mind. This is the time to give chocolates to show you care, and to get in someone’s good graces – and maybe hopefully in their bed! As I have done for the last few years, the theme this month is scientifically backed aphrodisiacs. All the papers are linked throughout the descriptions, so please feel free to take a gander! After all, there is pretty much nothing sexier than scientifically backed food, right?

This Month's Flavors

Crave

Apple Pâte de Fruit with Spiced Wine Dark Chocolate Ganache

Starting off with one of the oldest aphrodisiacs, alcohol! Wine and other inebriants have been used to lower inhibitions in hopes of increasing likelihood of sex since humans first started fermenting alcohol. The wine is mulled with clove and nutmeg, both of which have been studied to show increased sexual partners in male rats. And, of course dark chocolate has been considered an aphrodisiac since at least the Aztecs. There are records showing Aztecs trading cocoa beans to have a night at the brothel, and the Aztec emperor Montezuma was rumored to drink 50 cups of chocolate a day to satisfy his many wives. We have known for a while that chocolate has some potential health benefits, including chemicals that cause happiness and passion and could potentially be considered an aphrodisiac. So this ganache is jam packed with science already! The curvaceous apple has been thought of as an aphrodisiac for most of European history. Native to Central Asia, apples were extremely expensive in ancient Greece. And of course, if something is expensive and/or rare, it must be great to give to a desired partner! Gaia gave a golden apple tree to Hera for her wedding, and so apples were given as a declaration of love. All in all, an excellent start for this sexy, science-y month!

Desire

Peanut Praline with Passion Fruit Caramel

Peanuts have a certain chemical that is a dopamine precursor, and dopamine inhibits prolactin, which can lead to infertility. When male rats were given an aqueous extract, there was a significant rise in testosterone and pregnancy. The same article claims that peanuts could be used in treatment for hyperprolactinemia induced infertility and early stages of Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson’s is linked to a dopamine deficiency, so peanuts could help stimulate more dopamine production). Peanuts and passion fruit leaves also have compounds that could potentially help with erectile dysfunction! What a useful legume. A methanol extract of passion fruit leaves was linked with increased testosterone in rats. Also, though it seems like the etymology of passion fruit should be based on the feelings the fruit evokes, it is actually from 16th century Spanish missionaries comparing the flower to the Passion of Christ. But hey, I think that we should go with a romantic take anyway!

Want

Apricot Serrano Jam with Espresso Dark Chocolate Ganache

Historically, spicy peppers have been considered aphrodisiacs in many places throughout the world. When the spice trade to Europe became bigger in the 14th century, many exotic spices became thought of as aphrodisiacs including spicy peppers. In the Kama Sutra, there is mention of men using chili powder on their nether regions to be more seductive. I don’t think I need disclaimers here, but please do not do this. In reality, some spice can be stimulating, but be careful to not overdo it! The capsaicin in chili peppers is a natural stimulant, and can increase the production of adrenaline and endorphins in the body. Apricots have been used as an aphrodisiac for many different cultures. Throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe there have been ideas of the apricot as a sexual stimulant and a labor inducer. Scientifically, the apricot has lycopene, an organic carotenoid that gives many fruits and vegetables a red color. Lycopene has been shown to help with sperm count in rats by helping protect from cyclosporine A-induced oxidative stress. Stimulants being used as aphrodisiacs naturally leads us to coffee. In rats, it was shown that female rats were significantly more interested in sex after having caffeine – though this was the first time the rats had ever had coffee, and so the results are unlikely to be the same in human women who have coffee often. Men who take 2-3 cups of coffee every day are less likely to report ED. Also, this study showed that female rats had an increase in sexual motivation and locomotion activity with caffeine.

Concupiscence

Burnt Honey and Black Tea Ganache

Fun vocab alert! Concupiscence means strong sexual desire, or lust. Perfect for this chocolate, as in classical Arabic, honey can imply eroticism and fertility – indeed the word for a small piece of honey is the same as the sweetness of sexual intercourse. Honey was also a common aphrodisiac in ancient Greece. Hippocrates believed it would increase sexual vigor, along with many other philosophers. Camellia sinensis, more commonly known as black tea, has been thought to be a male sexual stimulant in Sri Lankan traditional medicine. Studies have shown that mainly through reducing anxiety and elevating testosterone, black tea can help male sexual ejaculation latency. This ganache is smooth, a little bitter and a little sweet.

Yearn

Strawberry Pâte de Fruit with Poppy Filling

In ancient Rome, the heart shaped strawberry was seen as a symbol of Venus (the goddess of love, fertility, beauty, and desire among other things). In addition, strawberries have an obviously large amount of seeds and so were tied to fertility. Poppies are an interesting one – their narcotic effects have been documented as far back as 3400 BC in Mesopotamia. Since they do help you relax, it is possible that is part of the historical belief in their aphrodisiac qualities. Also, much like strawberries, poppy pods have many seeds and so have been tied to fertility. They do also contain compounds that potentially help with erectile dysfunction. I wanted to lean into the bitter, earthiness of poppy seeds here – the pâte de fruit is very sweet as a balance to the poppy.

Obsess

Coconut Duja with Ginger Milk Chocolate Ganache

Coconut is thought to enhance sex hormone production due to higher levels of manganese and vitamin C. Also, a study has shown that coconut husk extract helps regulate male sex hormones in rats. Ginger is a possible help for male erectile dysfunction. But, I think this might be my favorite chocolate this month, and I am kind of obsessed with the combination here. The coconut and almond duja is crunchy, a little bitter from the caramelized almonds, and pairs perfectly with the incredibly smooth ganache. The ganache is made with fresh pressed ginger juice, so you get all the spiciness and freshness which is just so good against the creamy milk chocolate. A perfect end note for this month’s chocolates!