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- Oysters. It’s kind of an odd thing that these slippery, slimy, half-shell appetizers supposedly make people want to dive into the sheets. Slurping down raw oysters has been linked to a heightened libido since Casanova’s time — and we can blame his recounting of his sexual exploits for making oysters such a popular date night app.
- Pomegranate. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was the first to plant a pomegranate tree. For thousands of years, pomegranates have symbolized fertility and abundance, and according to PBS.org’s The History Kitchen, some have even suggested that the forbidden fruit mentioned in the Bible was actually a pomegranate rather than an apple.
- Chili Peppers. It probably makes sense to you that the spiciness of chili peppers can spice up your love life. For some, the heat of the chili pepper is too much to handle, and can sometimes cause tears of pain rather than tears of joy.
- Asparagus. Listen, we’re not the first to suggest that asparagus may be an aphrodisiac due to its, well, suggestive shape. For centuries, people have been consuming asparagus in order to improve their sex life.
- Chocolate
- Strawberries
- Oysters
- Escargot
- Spaghetti Pasta
- Chili Peppers
- Avocados
- Heart of Palm
- Pomegranates
- Rose Petals
To the surprise of literally no one, chocolate is the product most tightly associated with love, at least romantic love. It’s not just due to Valentine’s Day commercialization, with heart-shaped Valentine’s Day chocolatesbecoming one of the inseparable features of the holiday. Notably, chocolate had been associated with love centuries before Valent...
While they cannot precisely compete with chocolate, strawberries are also often associated with love and romance. Chocolate-covered strawberries, for example, are often considered one of the go-to romantic gifts. Interestingly, strawberries have been associated with love in one way or another for far longer than chocolate. In Ancient Rome, the berr...
Oysters have also been considered one of the foods symbolizing love since ancient times. Though notably, the reasons why Greeks and Romans believed them to be “food of love” and why they’re considered romantic today are vastly different. Greeks associated oysters with love because of their connection to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Bo...
Unlike the previous entries on the list, escargot doesn’t have any myths or legends (or chemical ingredients) that associate it with love, be it physical or romantic. Technically speaking, escargot’s (cooked snail served in its shell with a garlic and butter sauce) reputation as a romantic food is primarily crafted by its birthplace. France is wide...
Spaghetti is likely the most fun entry on this list: it’s associated with romance and love not because of any specific attributes of the dish itself but because of pop culture. Have you heard of Spaghetti Kiss? It’s a popular romantic media trope: two characters, attracted to each other, share a plate of pasta. While distracted by something or othe...
Spicy food is on this list for the same reason as chocolate and oysters: it has mild aphrodisiac qualities and has, thus, become associated with physical love and desire in multiple cultures. Mexico, for example, is particularly partial to chili peppers. They’re believed to enhance the senses (including physical sensations) and increase desire. Spi...
If spaghetti became associated with romantic food due to Disney’s vast and overwhelming power (and internet memes; never underestimate the memes!), then avocados were turned into romantic food thanks to the consumption trend. It’s not so much a romantic food as the ingredient of choice for romantic dinners among people who prefer sticking to “clean...
Heart of palm is another entry on the list, the romantic nature of which has been decided by modern consumption trends and not any specific traits or history associated with romance or love. Instead, the heart of palm - a common ingredient in Asian cooking - has become the latest on the list of food items for special occasions, including date night...
Another food that owes its romantic reputation to Ancient Greek mythology. In many regards, pomegranates were to the Greeks what strawberries were to the Romans. While pomegranates weren’t associated with Aphrodite, they were associated with abundance, fertility, and - most importantly - indissolubility of marriage. In Ancient Greek, red was strong...
Okay, so technically it’s not rose-as-food that is strongly associated with romance, but rose-the-flower. Especially the pink rose (symbolizing innocent love and gratitude), red rose (representing romantic love and passion), and yellow rose (symbol of platonic love and friendship). But cooking with rose petals has a long history and tradition, espe...
- Honey. A good source of B vitamins and boron, honey accordingly helps the body use and metabolize estrogen. It may also enhance testosterone levels in the blood.
- Bananas. Known for essential potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins, bananas also contain chelating materials and are a member of the plant family Bromeliaceae, as is the pineapple, whose effects are reported to enhance male libido.
- Garlic. This food, famous for keeping away vampires, and rued on a first date, nevertheless is full of allicin, known to increase blood circulation.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers. No, not the rock band, the real peppers. Known as catalysts for releasing endorphins, which make us feel good, chili peppers’ properties have also been cited for their anesthetic results.
Oct 21, 2021 · As I started working on my menu, I decided I to bring foods associated with love and kindness to the table. Perhaps you would like to prepare “love food” on Valentine’s Day? Here are a few loving foods you can consider for your table. Pineapple. Pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality and welcome by the Caribbean people.
Feb 7, 2022 · Although egg noodles don’t do that for everyone, there are some foods that people unanimously feel that represent love from all over the world. Let’s explore the foods that were voted most likely to bring those special feelings to the dinner table.
Apr 26, 2015 · This Valentine’s Day, we are celebrating the different fruits and vegetables that symbolize love! In many parts of the world, from ancient times to modern days, fruits and vegetables are used to express love, desire and fertility!
Wine, or the Grape. Vino from the Latin vinum comes from Venus, the Goddess of Love. Grapes, the source of wine hanging in ripe and juicy clusters, were an ancient symbol of fertility in...
