Plump, juicy strawberries. Rich and red. Ribbons of honey. Golden and thick. Piles of pomegranates. Juicy and ripe. There are some foods that are irresistibly sexy, even when they’re not trying. The reason why is simple. Great sex is all about powerful sensory experiences, so is great food. No wonder the two are inextricably tangled together.
When it comes to food and sex, there are many foods that have that sexy vibe, some because of their looks, others because of their aphrodisiac qualities, still others because of their possibilities for play, and even some simply because of the experience of eating them. But the one thing they all have in common is that each and every one is bound to get you in the mood.
Slideshow: Edible Aphrodisiacs
You’ve Got the Look
Some foods just look sexy. Rich colors, suggestive shapes, and sensual textures are likely the reason. Some real lookers include:
Figs – When split open, they bear a striking resemblance to the female anatomy.
Honey – Just the texture itself, let alone the taste, brings to mind all sorts of naughty images.
Ripe fruits – There’s just something about a juicy strawberry, a ripe mango, a bunch of plump grapes, that click the sensuality switch is the brain.
Play With Your Food
Some foods get their sexy reputation because they are fun to play with. Whipped cream, chocolate sauce, honey, frosting, anything that can be spread or drizzled on and ultimately licked off can really get you going. Whether you apply them to the naughty bits or somewhere perfectly innocent, the application and the removal (whether by mouth or shower) can make for some seriously sexy fun.
Come on Baby Light, My Fire
Throughout the centuries, many, many foods have been credited with having aphrodisiac qualities. Can they actually help ramp up your desire? Who knows? But it sure wouldn’t hurt to try. Some of the classics are:
Asparagus – The rich, green stalks provide potassium, fiber, vitamins (B6, A and C), and thiamin. They also offer folic acid, which has been known to increase the production of histamine, necessary for both men and women to reach orgasm.
Oysters – Often the first aphrodisiac food that comes to mind, these sea dwellers are high in zinc, which increases the men’s sperm and testosterone production.
Almonds – The mere smell is said to rouse the desires of women.
Bananas – Known not only for their suggestive shape, bananas also provide the bromelain enzyme, credited with enhancing the male libido.
Basil – This popular herb is known for its alluring aroma as well as its warming effect and promotion of circulation.
Chocolate – Not only known for being romantic, chocolate also has a stimulating effect, similar to coffee. In addition, it is known to give the brain a helping hand when it comes to serotonin production.
Taste the Sensation
Then there are the foods that are sexy because of how they are eaten or how they feel in our mouths. The textures of foods like sushi, mangos and honey. Peeling back layer after layer of an artichoke. Caviar bursting in your mouth. Chocolate can also provide a highly sensual experience if you follow these steps from famed chocolatiar Vosges:
— Take in the glossy sheen.
— Release the chocolate’s aroma by rubbing it with your thumb and inhale deeply.
— Snap off a bite-sized piece.
— Place the chocolate on your tongue and press it to the roof of your mouth.
— Allow it to melt around your tongue.
— Finally, enjoy the lingering sensation.
(From http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/how_to_eat_chocolate)
The bottom line is this – food is sexy. Strawberries dripping with dark chocolate. Whipped cream fresh from the mixing bowl. Oysters plucked fresh from the ocean. There are a number of foods that have gained well-established reputations for being sexy. And although slathering one another in honey or hand-feeding your partner juicy slices of mango can be fabulous, don’t be limited by these or other lists. Sometimes the lesser-known erotic food experiences are the most compelling.
And, as the old saying goes, you are what you eat. So, why not give your diet a sexy makeover and give a whole new meaning to the question, “Hey, honey, what’s for dessert…”
Jenny Block is a freelance writer based in Dallas. She is the author of "Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage." Her work appears in "One Big Happy Family," edited by Rebecca Walker and "It’s a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters," edited by Andrea Buchanan. Visit her website at www.jennyonthepage.com or check out her blog at wwww.jennyonthepage.blogspot.com.
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