10 Aphrodisiac Recipes to Sweeten Your Valentine's Day
Oyster Ices Linda Pugliese
food styling by Anna Hampton
props from ABC Home, Sur La Ta
Valentine's Day

10 Aphrodisiacs to Sweeten Your Valentine's Day

Foodies who want to get into the mood for Valentine's Day know that aphrodisiacs can help spice things up between friends and lovers. So get the evening hot and steamy with these ten aphrodisiacs—and we're not just talking about in the kitchen.
  • Image may contain Animal Sea Life Oyster Invertebrate Food and Seashell
    Linda Pugliese
    food styling by Anna Hampton
    props from ABC Home, Sur La Ta
    1/10

    Oysters

    Casanova, one of the world's most famous womanizers, is said to have indulged in 50 oysters daily—and that was just for breakfast! Rich in zinc, they can help boost testosterone levels and libido. But lest you think eating oysters only works for men, it benefits women, too.

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  • Photo by John Kernick
    2/10

    Lavender

    Lavender has a storied past: The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used the aromatic herb not only medicinally but for cosmetic and beauty purposes. In ancient Rome, women kept sprays of lavender next to their beds as a way to arouse their mate's senses.

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  • Photo by Patricia Heal
    3/10

    Vanilla

    Nothing's too good for your sweetie, so splurge on whole vanilla beans. If you don't want to scrape the pods, use vanilla bean paste which is more economical and just as tasty.

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  • Photo by Bobbi Lin
    4/10

    Pomegranate

    一些学者认为,夏娃诱惑亚当没有with an apple but with a pomegranate. Though we may never know for sure, it's hard to deny the allure of those ruby red seeds.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    5/10

    Honey

    Need a quick pick-me-up? Sticky, sweet, and sensuous, honey contains natural sugars that can give you a fast energy boost.

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  • Photo by Martyn Thompson
    6/10

    Chocolate

    Falling in love is good for the heart, and so is dark chocolate. Full of antioxidants, this sweet treat is healthy in small amounts.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    7/10

    Ginger

    This knotty rhizome increases blood flow and warms up the whole body—plus, it adds a touch of spice to foods both savory and sweet.

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  • Peden and Munk Taylor and Jen
    8/10

    Figs

    Visually, the fig's status as eye candy is questionable: Does it represent the male or the female? But one bite into a ripe fig and there's no question that this fruit is nature's own candy.

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