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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1991)
Food taunts lovers with results By William Rudolph Staff Reporter Aphrodisiac, adj. 1. arousing sexual desire, -n. 2. an aphrodisiac agent, drug or food. —The Random House Diction ary. Good looks, qualities, youth and liberality are the chief and most natural means of making a person agreeable in the eyes of others. But in the absence of these, a man or woman must have resort to artifi cial means. —The Kama Sutra of Vatsyay ana Contrary to popular sayings, music may not, in fact, be the food of love. Since ancient times, some lust ful people have relied on certain foods tnemselves for love — at least in the more earthy senses of the word. Truly a category of exotic food all their own, aphrodisiacs are an edible form of what naughty cata logs coyly call "sensual aids." The word "aphrodisiac," in fact, comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Aphrodisiacs have turned up throughout the pages of literary history, from "1001 N'ights" to the Bible to Shakespeare, according to Greg and Beverly Frazier in "Aphrodisiac Cookery: Ancient ana Modem" (Troubador Press, 1970). Modem science, however, only officially recognizes two true aphrodisiacs: the dangerous Span ish Fly, or cantharides, which comes from the ground-up remains of European blister beetles. Spanish Fly irritates the sexual organs and can be fatal even in small doses. Yohimbine powder, from the bark of the yohimbine tree, also has received official notice. Like sex itself, too much of this also can kill. But popular tradition gives erotic powers to many other food items. Besides keeping the doctor away, apples may also do wonders for the love life. After all, it was the apple from the Tree of Knowledge that spelled the end of earthly paradise in Christian tradition. According to John Milton in "Para dise Lost," the first thing Adam T and Eve did after eating the apple was the original wild tning. "Aphrodisiac Cookery*' also contains the erotic history of the avocado. Apparently the Aztecs originally called the fruit "ahua catl," which translates into "tes ticle." Perhaps this is why avocados cost so much in the supermarket. Today, the potato is a staple of our diet. But before its incarnation as the french fry, in Early Modem times, the potato was believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac. In fact, mandrake root, a dis tant cousin of the lowly tuber, figured prominently in many love potions of the past. The Ancient Egyptians even referred to it as "The Phallus of the Field." In "Romantic Meals for Lov ers" (1988, Prima Publishing), Gabrielle Kirschbaum lists several other exotic aphrodisiacs, notably ground rhinoceros horn and gin seng. The Kama Sutra, the famous Classic Indian treatise on sexual ity and civilization, lists several sure-fire recipes for food to get one in the mood. Milk mixed with sugar, the root of the uchchate plant and licorice may be a stimulating tonic. A ram or goat's testicle boiled in milk mixed with sugar is sup posed to evoke a rise from anyone who sips it. In addition, ghee (clarified butter), honey, sugar, licorice, fennel seed and milk mixed to gether "is said to be holy and provocative of sexual vigor; a preservative of life and sweet to the taste." But before any would-be super lovers dash off to the zoo to muti late any rhinos, many common herbs and spices have long been linked to increased erotic appe tite. In fact, an everyday household spice cabinet can contain all the recipes for love anyone might need for 1001 Nights of pleasure. Curry powder, which irritates the bladder and uro-genital tract, tops the list and has long been a staple of Indian cookery. Sesame, coiander, cloves, celery, parsley, sageand aniscalsohavc supposed aphrodisiac powers. Not to be forgotten is sweet basil, fenel seed and saffron — which acts as a powerful stimulant in a short story by Anais Nin. . . For the health-food minded, the Fraziers include wheat germ, pine nuts, honey, raisins and dates. Last bu t not least, ga rl ic may do wonders between the sheets, even if vampires and breath may be casualties. Ken Johnson/Daily Nebraskan And in Oriental cuisine, bird's nest soup is in an erotic class by itself. One aphrodisiac that has long evoked consuming passions is chocolate. Throughout history, besides being associated with acne by woeful young lovers, chocolate lias had its erotic side, according to "Aphrodisiac Cookery." When not occupied with avo cados, Aztecs drank chocolate toasts to the health of Xochiquetzal, their equivalent of Aphroaite. As late as the 1600s, the Catho lic Church outlawed any forms of chocolate. Apparently it was just too stimulating. Today, of course, chocolates are associated with romantic love on Valentine's Day. But any day of the year, people with a passion for chocolate can indulge in anything from the simple Hershey oar to expensive, mouth-watering li queur-filled Godiva confections. If flowers, candy, the promises of a sincere, monogamous com mitment, in-depth discussions of past partners and a clean bill of sexual health won't do it, perhaps a trip to the cupboard or grocery store can perk up things up. iW.C.'s W.C.'si i i r JAKI: A STUDY BREAK! \ • $2.30 Pitchers \ Jk $1.00 Well Drinks Jt J\ W.C. 'S Downtown (fj | 122H T' Street | •W.C.’s ('nopnii NuMiund ith \m Other Offer- W.C.’si k Ml *•' BB BB BB BB BB BB ^B BB BB BB BB SB BB BIW BB BB BB BB BB BB J SALE 25 - 50% OFF CHAMPION - RUSSELL - GEAR - INSPORT - WOOLRICH Health Continued from Page 6 ach, wild mushroom, lemon and pepper and saffron almost didn't need a sauce. The list of unusual products crew as we continued up and down the aisles— goat cheese and goat milk, blue corn tortillas and spicy blue tortilla chins, hand-cooked potato chips and carrot "potato" chips. My shoppi ng li st grew as I stud ied tne bins in the bulk food sec tion, took a look at the organic coffees and strolled through the new deli and seafood counter in the back. Taking my reporting gear to the car, 1 got the checkbook from the car and headed for those little voices coming from the glass cabi net in the back of the store that hadn't stopped calling since I walked in. Coffee Continued from Page 6 walks of life filter into the area stores. Customers at The Mill and Euphoria are mainly college stu dents or professionals in their 30 s and 40s. "Anybody that drinks coffee likes us," Didrichsons said. The Perfect Cup caters to busi ness people and also attracts out of-town customers. Shriner said the store's convenient location in the Atrium's skywalk lures pas sers-by to stop in for coffee to go. Gourmet specialties are brew ing up popularity because they are a easy variation from every day life. "It's a change of pace. After drinking Folgers for a long lime it's nice to have a change," Snriner said. Euphoria Herbs is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Satur day. Hours at The Mill are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thurs day, 8 a.m. to midnignt Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Perfect Cup is open 7:30 a.m. to5:30 p.m. Monday though Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Next Week: Saint Valentine's Day Massacre
