Category: Ingredient 1. Origin: Asia History: The first written record of its use as a medicinal agent, although not necessarily an aphrodisiac, appears in Shennong Bencao Jing (Classic Herbal of Shennong), written around 100 A.D Ginseng was so valuable in ancient China that the Qing Dynasty rose to power in the mid-sixteenth century supported by money [...]
Category: Ingredient 1. Origin: Asia, Middle East History: 300 BC to the 200 AD Heavily traded along Incense Road Technique: Commodity/luxury Effect: 2. Origin: Asia, Middle East History: c. 10 C. BC The Queen of Sheba used Frankincese and Myrrh to seduce King Solomon and secure the freedom in incense road. Technique: cultural/myth; smell; commodity/luxury Effect: [...]
Category: Technique 1. Origin: Global History: As Jill Kilbourn observes in Dangerous Persuasions, “Advertising encourages us not only to objectify each other but also to feel that our most significant relationships are with the products that we buy. It turns lovers into things and things into lovers and encourages us to feel passion for our products rather than [...]
Category: Ingredient 1. Origin: Africa, Uganda History: no specific dates- possibly to present day to treat “sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction, seeds of Coffea arabica, to roast beverage or to chew” vernacular name: mwani (Runyankore) Technique: Cultural/myth; medicinal; physiological Effect: cures impotence/premature ejaculation 2. Origin: Asia, Middle East History: present-day Coffee in Arab countries is popularly [...]
Category: Ingredient 1. Origin: Asia; native to Sri Lanka, India History: I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come let us take our fill of love till morning.” (Proverbs 7, 17-18) (Warning Against the Adulteress) Technique: Smell; cultural/myth Effect: inspires love; seduction; lust/desire 2. Origin: Asia; Middle East History: 13th C. Al-Tifashi, Arab [...]
Category: Ingredient 1. Origin: Americas History: earliest evidence for cacao cultivation and use is from an archaeological site in the coastal plain of Chiapas, Mexico dating between 1800 and 1400 BC (pre-Olmec, “Barra”) also, Puerto Escondido, Honduras, which dates from 1100 to 1400 BC. Technique: Effect: 2. Origin: Americas, Aztec History: Earliest written evidence for use [...]
Category: Ingredient Origin: Asia; China, Borneo History: According to legend, long ago in China, there was an Emperor who loved to taste different gourmet dishes made by the Royal Cook. Each dish was exotic and different every day. If the cook fails to provide a new dish for the Emperor, not only will he lose his position [...]
Category: Ingredient 1. Origin: South Asia History: often referred to as the premier aphrodisiac in Tibetan medicine These can be used as a spice for cooking, taken in capsule form, or mixed with equal parts of ginger, black pepper, long pepper, ajowan, cumin, black cumin, and rock salt. Technique: Effect: 2. Origin: Europe; Ancient Rome History: [...]