With Strawberries and Champagne plastered on posters across shop windows and endless Groupon emails probing you to buy big boxes of chocolates for your loved one, the idea of romantic food comes to the forefront of our minds as the ‘most romantic day of the year’ approaches once again. Now I’ve always been one for trying new things, perhaps a strawberry and balsamic salad, or a champagne risotto to stir those love juices, but no, this year I thought I’d delve into the history and geography books to find something a little more original for getting my poor unsuspecting boyfriend into the romantic spirit. Perhaps for the starter I’ll make some soup…
South Korean Dog Soup, also known as Bosintang is admired particularly by the over 50s who claim they will be at it three times a night after a bowl of the stuff.
Italian Marcetto Cheese has a taste like no other due to its charming and unique manufacturing process; fermentation by maggots wriggling around in it. The larvae of the Piophila casei fly keep this cheese soft and allow liquid to ooze out of the rind. Local Sardinians love the delicacy and hail its supposed aphrodisiac properties.
Brazilian Cubeo tribes in the 19th century would eat the penis or scrotum of their vanquished opponent to get in the romantic mind-set.
Certain parts of Asia have had a long standing association between snakes and sexuality. Wonder where that comes from.
Afghanistan’s lamb testicles are ‘worth a thousand years of pathetic Viagra’ to quote one street vender. They are one of the most prized elements of a lamb carcass; those who have tried it claim they taste creamy…
Those who wish to bonk in Bejing may choose the famed Yak Penis which is boiled, peeled and at 14 inches long is then chopped and stirred into a chilli stew.
Camaroonian tree bark is the vegetarian’s aphrodisiac deriving from the pausinystalla johimbe tree.
Kenyan Dry Roast Porcupine, or the ‘nungunungu’, is believed to be a strong aphrodisiac and given that they are regarded as pests, I imagine few complaints are made at their disposal.
Japanese Fugu, also known as a blowfish, is probably one of the more deadly of the aphrodisiacs available. With a body that contains a toxin as lethal as cyanide, you must be a trained and licensed chef to serve this dish. It is considered one of the most famous and expensive delicacies on offer, its preparation features in Japanese law and it is also the only food the Emperor of Japan is prohibited from eating. Students would have had the go-ahead, should it have been in their price range.
Chinese Deer Penis is an age old delicacy that dates back to Hippocrates. The ancient Greek physician would prescribe the penis to those in need of arousal after it was steeped in rice liquor for a year. In 2008 China banned athletes from taking the substance as it is also well renowned for its medicinal properties, containing a traceable amount of stimulant.
Cantharides, or the ‘Spanish Fly’ was famed in the 17th century by Madam de Montespan who would put a concoction of the fly, mole teeth and blood into King Louis XIV’s food to send him running into her arms, the minx. However when the Marquis de Sade tried using the fly, by putting it into aniseed pastilles to hand out to attendees of his frequent orgies, it was less successful at stirring the juices and unfortunately caused a few to die instead.
Marshmallows, hurrah! Except disappointingly not quite in the form we are accustomed to and certainly not in the form of scoop-able marshmallow fluff. The Greeks supposedly would sprinkle marsh mallow seeds over female genitalia to promote arousal. Although today marshmallows are mainly sugar and gelatine, gelatine is actually still considered to be on the list of aphrodisiacs.
So after copious amounts of research I’ve come up with a romantic meal for two on valentine’s day that consists of; dog soup, followed by Fugu sashimi (fingers crossed I don’t poison him) and a pile of marshmallows for pudding. Sounds alluring don’t you think?
Words: Poppy Bethell