Aphrodisiac

An aphrodisiac is a food or drug supposed to provoke love (or lust): the name comes from the goddess of love Aphrodite. Newly introduced exotic fruits or vegetables often acquire such a reputation, at least until they become more familiar.

• Eringoes (the Sea holly, Eryngium maritimum)
• Oysters
• Potatoes
• Spanish fly (Cantharidin)
• Tomatoes

Some aphrodisiacs appear to gain their reputation from a process of similarity, hence the trade in rhinoceros horn that is endangering this animal. (See Carl Hiaasen's 1997 novel Sick Puppy.) Others may gain there reputation from the apparent virility or agressivness of the animal source such as tiger bones, also endangering the species.

There is some debate in scientific circles as to whether a chemical present in chocolate is an aphrodisiac.

see also Viagra