Ever heard of the kitchen as a place to please your loved one? Think - sensuous textures, lovely aromas, and decadent flavors of certain foods are known to heighten one's senses? Ever since Anthony fed grapes to Cleopatra, and Krishna lured Radha,  certain foods and spices have developed a reputation as igniting the fire in the body. Here are a handful of ingredients to ignite the fire within you. Even the word “aphrodisiac” – from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love – conjures up images of magical ingredients and mystical love potions.

Topping the list:

CHOCOLATE – Owing its aphrodisiac beginnings to the Aztecs and the Mayans, chocolate was considered “nourishment of the Gods” and the Aztec ruler, Montezuma, reportedly drank fifty cups of chocolate each day to better serve his harem of 600 women. Also a regular part of Casanova’s diet of love foods, today we know that chocolate also contains PEA (phenyl ethylamine), the same naturally occurring amphetamine that rushes through the veins of someone experiencing the situation known as love.

HONEY – Ever wondered where the term ‘Honeymoon’ sprang from? It comes from an ancient tradition of couples going into seclusion and drinking a honey concoction until the first new moon of their marriage. Known as an aphrodisiac extraordinaire as far back as the 5th century B.C., even Hippocrates prescribed honey for sexual vigor.

BASIL – Highly regarded in cultures around the world, basil is considered the royal herb of the Greeks, a sacred herb in India and Haitian lore claims basil comes from Erzulie, their goddess of love. As an aphrodisiac, its alluring power has long been used to keep wandering eyes focused homeward. Some stories even report that ancient wives with straying husbands would powder their breasts with crushed basil to entice them back home.

CHILES – Long believed to house a complete arsenal of aphrodisiac powers, eating chile peppers gets the blood rushing, the heart pumping, the face flushing and the pores sweating – Need we say more ?

POMEGRANATES - Throughout history, the pomegranate has been a symbol of fertility and the focus of legends of love. It's specifically mentioned in the Kama Sutra as a valuable aid in lovemaking. Its red color is a shade of desire and the act of peeling and eating it with your fingers becomes a sensuous act of play. In ancient Greece, the pomegranate was the symbol of Dionysian rites.

GINGER- Ginger has warming, stimulating properties, whether used as an ingredient in teas or in curries.. These stimulating powers may have contributed to the spice's historic popularity as an aphrodisiac in both Asia and India, Ginger consumption has been linked to such physiological effects as an elevated heart rate and increased perspiration.

|