Actress Kim Sharma, tells, “The concept of aphrodisiacs isn’t new. It has been existent since time immemorial. And let’s not talk about western fads that have been ‘adopted’ by us. On the contrary, aphrodisiac foods have always been a part of Indian tradition and customs, and the recipes are being passed on gradually to the next generation. It’s another story that we aren’t aware about the ‘aphrodisiacal qualities’ about these things.”
The actress further explains, “What do you think your grandmother or your mother-in-law is doing when she walks into your room with kesar-badam ka doodh? Well, she is doing more than just being nice to you. Milk with saffron and almond is aphrodisiacal and meant to up the libido. It’s a custom that has been followed over the years… The ‘love potions’ or the need to consume such foods may have arisen from the importance given to procreation then. To father a child was the mission of man; to take the race forward. It was a religious issue then and the potency of both the male and the female was of utmost importance.”
Some of the most common foods with aphrodisiacal characteristics are chocolate, ginger, ginseng, saffron, cardamom, garlic, pineapple, pomegranate, pine seeds, mustard, basil, dates, cherries, figs… “Oyster meat is supposed to be very rich in aphrodisiacal elements,” adds Kim, “And then there’s of course cocoa. You know, in some parts of the world, like Mexico, earlier prostitutes were paid in cocoa beans. Interesting na?”
“But augmenting sexual desire is not only about boring healthy things, it can be made interesting with wine, honey, chocolate, vanilla, truffles, raspberries and strawberries,” suggests Kim, “Sometimes it’s the scent of the food that does the trick for you. And also more often than not there’s a lot that you can do for yourself and your partner ensuring a perfect end to a perfect date.”
Sensuous Sharma proposes, “A sexy dress, a great perfume, romantic music, scented candles, beautiful flowers, wine, strawberries covered with chocolate, oyster soup, tossed salad, garlic chicken parmesan, dessert wine followed by beautifully presented dessert. And yes, drop the fork and knife, and lick those luscious fingers… it’s ahem!”