We all know the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, but there are some foods that might get you there a bit quicker! Named after the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, these foods are all about turning up the romance. Today, we’re rounding up five of our favorite amour-inducing foods to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Natural Aphrodisiacs
Strawberries
It’s no coincidence these berries look like hearts! Strawberries are an age-old symbol of love, from representing the goddess Venus to being customarily eaten before one’s honeymoon. Go for the quintessential Valentine’s treat of chocolate-covered strawberries.
Oysters
Arguably the most famous aphrodisiac, oysters are an oceanic delicacy in season between September and April — perfect for Valentine’s Day! These bivalves are known for their luxurious taste, briny flavor, and one-of-a-kind texture.
How to Shuck an Oyster
1. Prepare your space. Start with an implement to open the oyster, ideally an oyster knife, but it can also be done with a table knife or even a flathead screwdriver. Place a clean dishcloth upon your work surface.
2. Inspect your oyster. Each oyster has a hinge that separates the shells at the tip of the shell. Generally, an oyster will have a flat side and a rounded, more bulbous side. The flat side should face up.
3. Once you have located the hinge, place the oyster flat side up on the prepared dishcloth. Use the dishcloth to hold the oyster in place.
4. Insert the knife at, or next to, the hinge and twist the knife to pop open the oyster. The trick is to glide the knife until there is enough leverage to pry open the shell.
5. Once it is open, slide the knife across the bottom of the top shell to sever the muscle connecting the muscle to the shells.
6. Then pop open your oyster, discard the top shell, and check to ensure there are no fragments of the shell inside the oyster. Run your knife carefully under the oyster to sever the connection from the bottom shell.
7. Make sure to serve soon after opening. You can keep them cold by storing on a bed of ice.
Chocolate
Known as the food of the gods, chocolate has long been a staple in the realm of romance. From the classic box of chocolates to a heavenly chocolate fondue, it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without it!
Artichoke
Spiky as they may be, artichokes are all about love. Legend has it that the Greek god Zeus was in love with a mortal woman, and when she didn’t reciprocate his feelings, he turned her into the very first artichoke plant. The artichoke’s love story doesn’t end there, however. In 1500’s Europe, it was believed that eating them could invoke the favor of Venus, goddess of love.
Vanilla
Vanilla isn’t just a classic ice cream flavor! When clinically studied, vanilla has been shown to have aphrodisiac properties. Try swapping out a bottle of vanilla extract for real vanilla beans to dial up the romance.