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CHEF'S CORNER

Tantalising affair Aphrodisiacs like lobster, chocolate and strawberry can enhance your love life

In the regular menu, dishes with asparagus, almonds, fresh oysters, mushroom and sea food in general are considered to have aphrodisiacal qualities. Though not all hotels have festivals dedicated to aphrodisiac food, there have been instance sin recent times. And the trend might just catch up in the days to come.

Love foods or aphrodisiacs have a firm scientific basis. If love is sensual, so are love foods.

Spices to begin with have aroma, which ensures invigorating romantic encounters. The Arabs had their perfumed gardens and the Indians their Kama Sutra, each of which dealt with favoured spices such as nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and ginger. The Romans favoured cinnamon and pepper and the Chinese had a liking for ginger.

Spices and herbs tickle the senses and aphrodisiacs find presence in the food of the gods. The essential oils and spices contribute to thesmell, taste and sensation.

Eugenol in cinnamon, clove and pimento has anaesthetic effect. Menthol from mints has a cooling potential. Anise contains anethole, cinnamon produces cinnamaldehyde, ginger contains gingerols, mace contains myristin, pepper contains piperine, vanilla contains the widely loved vanillin, saffron contains picrocrocin and so on.

Other herbs that have been reported to have aphrodisiacal properties include garlic, rosemary and thyme. The ancient list also includes anise, basil, carrot, salvia, gladiolus root, orchid bulbs, pistachio nuts, arugula, sage, sea fennel, turnips, skink flesh (a type of lizard) and river snails.

The people of yore also suggested one steer clear off dill, lentil, lettuce, watercress, rueand water lily as they are an-aphrodisiacs (which reduce potency).

In ancient times, a distinction was made between a substance that increased fertility and one that simply increased sex drive.

One of the key concerns then was nutrition. Food was not readily available as it is today. Under-nourishment creates a loss of libido as well as reduces fertility rates. Substances that by nature represent seed such as bulbs, eggs, snails were considered to have sexual powers. Other types of foods were considered stimulating by their physical resemblance to human anatomy.

Initially, aphrodisiacs were first sought out as a remedy for various sexual anxieties including the need to increase fertility.

Procreation was an important moral and religious issue and aphrodisiacs were sought to ensure both male and female potency.

Love foods are a vast topic and provide great insight on a very sensitive issue of human existence. Here is a recipe that can be considered a love food.

1 lobster

2 1/2 cups fresh lime juice (lemon will do)

1 tbsp parsley and chopped ginger

Tabasco

Remove the pulp of a good lobster from its shell. Place the pulp in a bowl and cover it with lime juice. Add the spices and leave in the refrigerator for 12 hours till the lobster is cooked in the lime marinade.

Strain away the marinade completely. You can steam or grill the lobster a bit if you desire. When you serve it, cut it into slices and sprinkle Tabasco sauce, according to how strong you like it. Serve with love.

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