Zimagal Monthly Magazine - Volume One, Issue Seven

What do oysters, yohimbe bark, and Viagra have in common?
They all supposedly have an effect on the libido. Judging by the thousands of desperate men in this country who are clamoring for prescriptions for the latter, lack of sexual energy seems to be a big problem.

"Aphrodisiac" is defined in the Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology as:
1. a drug or agent that arouses or increases sexual responses.
2. causing or increasing sexual desire.

Over the ages, men and women have sought to enhance their sexual desire. Various strange and exotic herbs, foods, and chemicals have been touted as the ultimate aphrodisiac. Is it really that important? Ok...yes it is...to some.

I recently experienced raw oysters for the first time. I reluctantly choked down two of them, at the urging of my devilish date. Luckily, my gag reflex did not betray me, and I was able to keep down the salty, slimy creatures. I felt no sudden burst of sexual energy as I wiped off my tongue with my dinner napkin. After downing the remaining five oysters, my date did not show any signs of sexual enlightenment either. Perhaps he has great control, I do not know. Maybe a whole lot more oysters were needed?

As the evening went on, however, I felt a great deal of sexual stimulation. But I think that was not at all due to the effect of the oysters, but rather to the company I was keeping. You see, I do not need a great deal of exotic substances to artificially boost my "appetite", so to speak. An evening spent in interesting (and handsome) male company, full of intimate conversation and flirting, teamed with a general fondess for my companion, are usually all it takes to stimulate me. Flowers, boxes of chocolates, nice dinners, and jewelry are always useful incentives for my libido as well (hint hint).

What woman isn't turned on by a box of chocolates? Perhaps the quickest way to a woman's heart (not that the heart is the body part in question here) is to produce an assortment of high quality chocolate-y goodies. Godiva, Ghirardelli, and See's are recommended.

I asked one of my favorite Real Men what his favorite form of aphrodisiac was. His response: "Um, breathing?" Just as I suspected. Merely being a live male was enough to keep his libido running smoothly.

I have done a little research on what has been used as a means to arousal through the years and around the world. Some mighty peculiar things!!

Perhaps one of the most famous aphrodisiacs is oysters. As I mentioned above, they did nothing for me. But as legend holds, when Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, sprang forth from the sea on an oyster shell and promptly gave birth to Eros, a working aphrodisiac was born.

What does this oyster resemble?

Casanova is said to have been a firm believer in oysters, eating 50 of them raw every morning in the bath together with the lady he fancied at that moment.

Oysters are high in phosphorus, iodine and zinc, which can do a lot of good, especially zinc, said to increase both sperm and testosterone production as well as the secretion of a vaginal lubricant.

Here are two recipes for you, one raw and one cooked (the latter being my preference).

Oyster Shooter
Take an oyster, put it in a shot glass, add a little cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish and jalapeno vodka. Bleah!

Roasted Oysters Wrapped in Pancetta with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce
Ingredients
1 dozen Oysters -very fresh
12 slices, Pancetta-very thinly sliced about 1/8th pound
1 cups Balsamic vinegar
1 each Cinnamon sticks
4 each Juniper berries
1 each Bay leaves
8 each Whole peppercorns
1 stick unsalted butter, very cold, cut into 8 pieces
1. Carefully open the oysters, reserving the liquor. Wrap each oyster with pancetta and place in a cleaned oyster shell.
2. Place reserved oyster liquor, vinegar, cinnamon, juniper, bay leaves, peppercorns in a saucepan and simmer 15 minutes or until the vinegar has reduced by two thirds.
3. Using a whisk, add the butter one piece at a time and whisk until all the butter is incorporated before adding more butter. If the sauce seems about to boil remove it from the heat-if the sauce boils it will curdle.
4. Keep adding butter one piece at a time until the sauce is thick and tasty- you may not need one or two pieces.
5. Roast the oysters for 6-10 minutes in a preheated 450F oven-until the pancetta is almost crispy.
6. Remove the oysters from the oven, allow to cool for 2 minutes, arrange on a serving platter and drizzle the balsamic vinegar sauce over the oysters.

More Aphrodisiacs