It’s interesting how certain things start to get associated with holidays, like watermelon with Independence Day, pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, and of course- a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day! While we definitely associate chocolate with the holiday of love, there are actually a few different foods that are associated with love- let’s take a look, shall we?

• Honey- not just for Pooh bear! Granted, honey is also a lovey-dovey nickname, but honey is a little more scientific than that as well. It helps the body use and metabolize estrogen/testosterone. Traditionally it’s even been offered at weddings, to symbolize the sweetness of the union!
  
  
• Apples- I’m not sure how sensual an apple is, but this little tidbit of information made me laugh! Apparently in the Middle Ages, apples were believed to have aphrodisiac qualities. It was believed that if a woman wanted a man to fall in love with her, she could sleep with an apple under her armpit and then get that man to eat the apple the next day. Maybe he could smell the pheromones? ;)


• Oysters- These don’t necessarily look appetizing, but they have long been known as a “romantic” food. This is probably due to the fact that they are very high in zinc, which helps testosterone production.


• Figs- Ancient cultures associated figs with fertility, possibly due to their resemblance to the female organs. Supposedly they were a favorite of Cleopatra’s, they have been associated in Greek mythology with sexual desire, and they are actually technically a flower, not a fruit! So I guess if you really wanted to be different this year, you could gift a bouquet of figs, instead of roses!


• Bananas- This uniquely shaped fruit is full of bromelain, which can help with testosterone production and male libido. That’s all I’ll say about that.


• Chili peppers- Montezuma is said to have added chili peppers to his chocolate drink before romantic evenings. This could be because chili peppers release endorphins and contain capsaicin, a chemical that stimulates our nerves- the reason that peppers are spicy! They’ve also been said to make your lips slightly fuller/plumper after eating. Who needs Botox when you’ve got chili peppers?


• Strawberries- Probably something you were expecting to see on this list! Their beautiful red color makes them a great visual aphrodisiac, as well as their natural heart shape! The ancient Romans saw strawberries as the symbol of Venus, the goddess of love. Supposedly a double strawberry will bring you love, and if you break a double strawberry in half with someone, you’ll fall in love with each other!


• Garlic- Probably not something you were expecting to see on this list! In China it represents luck and fertility and was often used as an aphrodisiac for Chinese rulers. Maybe this is because garlic is full of allicin, an anticoagulant that helps with blood circulation.


• Pomegranate- In Greek mythology, pomegranates represented marriage and togetherness, and specifically represented Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In China, they symbolized fertility because of their “many seeds”. They’re also a beautiful and elegant fruit!

Some other foods that have been considered romantic are wine, truffles (mushrooms), nuts, spinach, avocados, caviar, carrots, lemon, lavender, and basil. But really, I think romance is what you make it- you probably have foods you consider “romantic” that’s not on this list! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! (I mean, can anything be more romantic than a pint of your favorite ice cream your sweet hubby surprised you with because you had a rough week? I think not!)

    Camille Hoffmann
    Monthly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com