For many of these alleged aphrodisiacs, there’s little evidence to support their claims. But still, it’s fun to speculate (and even more fun to experiment.)
Coco-de-Mer: The nut of Lodoicea maldivica is not only visually stimulating, because of its close resemblance to a vagina, but it apparently also acts as an aphrodisiac when consumed. Its interior is jelly-like when ripe and very much appreciated, not only for its aphrodisiacal qualities, but because of the taste. It is the largest fruit in the plant world, reaching a weight of 10-20kg.
Although commonly called a “double coconut”, it is not actually a coconut, since it grows on a fan-leaf palm, with the two sexes on different trees. The “female” trees do not bear fruit until they are more than 100 years old. And, they are confined to two out of the twelve islands of the Seychelles, with the annual production limited to just a few thousand nuts.
Coconut: Even regular coconuts might be useful, since the 14th century Arab geographer Ibn-Battuta spent some time on the Maldives, mainly living on fish and fresh coconuts. “I myself had four legitimate wives in this country, apart from the concubines. I was potent for them every day, and besides that spent the whole night with whoever’s turn it was. I lived like a prince for a year and a half.” (Not a bad feat acquiring four wives during such a short period. But maybe it was the fish diet rather than the coconuts…)
The betel nut: Early Indian writings suggested multiple uses of the betel nut, including inducing love, expelling wind, killing germs and subduing bad body odour.
The betel nut is the seed of Areca catechu, a single-trunked palm tree which can reach a height of 15-30 metre and which is endemic among the tropical islands of the south-western Pacific and adjacent shores.
The reddish-yellow “nuts”, which are actually berries, are 6-8 centimetres long and contain a small kernel. A slice of the nut is taken, sprinkled with finely ground lime and other suitable spices, and then wrapped in a leaf of betel pepper (Piper betle). This small package is then chewed.
Walnut: The Latin name of the genus walnut, Juglans, indicates its supposed properties: literally the name means the glans of Jupiter. The origin of the name might be the ancient Roman use of walnut in fertility rites, including the practice of throwing walnuts instead of rice after marriage ceremonies. Walnut preparations have also been used occasionally in France and Italy to increase desire.
Quince: Cydonia oblongata (C. vulgaris) (Rosaceae) has long been cultivated throughout the Mediterranean area. The fruit is believed to have been the golden apples of the Hesperides, according to the Greek physician Theophrastus (c.300 B.C.). Some sources also claim that it was the apple which lured Eve.
Due to its colour, fragrance and many seeds, the fruit was dedicated by the Greeks to Aphrodite, and by the Romans to Venus. It is a symbol of beauty, love, fertility and a happy marriage. The eating of a Quince pear at weddings is said to be preparative of sweet and delightful days between husband and wife. The high concentration of mucilage in the seeds makes them very popular as an aphrodisiac. Quince jelly has also a good reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Grapes: The Greek god Dionysus was not only the god of wine, but also the god of fertility and procreation. Naturally, even unfermented grapes were ascribed stimulating properties.
Ginkgo Nuts: Are the fruits of the maidenhair tree, Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgoaceae), and reputedly the oldest surviving plant in the world. Its origin is in the Permian era, some 200-225 million years ago, and the present form of the ginkgo leaf has been essentially unchanged since Jurassic times, about 100 million years ago.
Its fruit resemble that of the persimmon in colour (pale orange), size and character, but it has unpleasant smelling flesh (the odour is the result of an abundant production of butyric acid). When the husks fall off, the nuts can be collected and dried. Then, once cracked open, the odourless contents can be eaten.
In Chinese herbal medicine ginkgo leaves have been used for more than 5,000 years against ailments ranging from asthma to impotence, although nowadays, the most common preparation is a standardised extract (containing 24% flavoglycosides). The nuts have also been used as a kidney yang tonic, which would imply such remarkable and diverse properties as increasing sexual energy, stopping bed-wetting and restoring hearing loss.
Ginkgo nuts can be roasted and eaten simply because they are delicious. In Japan they are eaten in an egg custard like dish called chawanmushi. Canned ginkgo nuts are available in Japan and China, and are also imported into some Western countries.
They contain very small quantities of a group of remarkable chemicals called ginkgolides; higher concentrations are found in the leaves and in the wood. The ginkgolides are highly modified di-terpenes containing a tertiary butyl group and a lactone ring system that is stable towards strong acids but readily hydrolysed by weak bases.
Pine seeds & nuts: appear to have a reputation as an aphrodisiac in the Mediterranean as well as in the East. Apicus, in his cookbook “De re coquinaria”, quoting the old Roman Marcus Terentius Varro, also called Reatimus (116-28 B.C.), suggests the use of pine seeds together with cooked onions, white mustard (Eruca sativa) and pepper.
Galen, a Greek of the second century A.D., recommended drinking a glassful of thick honey, and eating twenty almonds and one hundred pine nuts before going to bed. After repeating this for three nights, a man will acquire vigour for sex. Further, in “Ars Amatoria”, “The Art of Love”, the roman poet Ovid provides a list of aphrodisiacs which includes “the nuts that the sharp-leaved pine brings forth”.
There are several varieties of pine nut. The most common pine nuts, at least in Europe, are seeds of the Italian Stone Pine nut, Pinus pinea, and the Swiss Stone Pine, Pinus cembra. In the U.S., seeds of the Mexican Nut Pine, Pinus cembroides, are also marketed.
However, the most effective pine nuts come from Chilgoza Pine or Noosa Pine Pinus gerardiana. This pine grows in the north-western Himalayan Mountains from Afghanistan to Tibet at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 metres above sea level. The seeds are cylindrical and up to 2.5 cm long. One tree can bear up to 25 cones, each cone producing up to 100 seeds. The Chilgoza pine nuts are a staple food for the inhabitants of Kunawar, a region known for its high birth-rate. Attempts have been made to cultivate the chilgoza pine outside the Himalayas, but without success.
Pine nuts can be served as snacks (far better than popcorn during a romantic movie), and are also a major constituent of some aphrodisiac recipes.
Posted by Jonathan in Biology