If you and your Valentine are looking for ways to add even more spice to the romantic holiday, consider sipping on an herbal tea that doubles as an aphrodisiac. According to a study from Ontario, Canada’s University of Guelph Department of Food Science, the following herbs will improve human sexual function: panax ginseng, saffron, and yohimbe. The study also found that consuming the following herbs increased sexual desire in humans: the Brazilian plant muira puama, the mustard plant maca root, and cacao aka chocolate. Armed with this information, we set out to find herbal teas made from these plants in order to increase you and your loved one’s sexual appetite or enhance your performance in the boudoir. Enjoy!
1) Panax Ginseng Tea
Ginseng is a root that has two main varieties: American ginseng (panax quinquefolius) and Asian or Korean ginseng (panax ginseng). According to WebMD, American ginseng is “less stimulating” than Korean ginseng. And on Valentine’s Day, we’re going for stimulating. You can apply panax ginseng directly to the penis as a homeopathic way to curb premature ejaculation, but if you’d prefer to drink something, look no further than a panax ginseng tea. Get your panax ginseng tea shipped directly from South Korea with Korean Red Ginseng Root Tea from kkumsa, or opt for looseleaf ginseng tea from Bulgaria or panax ginseng tea bags from Terra Vita.
2) Saffron Tea
Saffron is a purple flower whose red stigmas are used to make medicines and, in our case, tea. While saffron is used to increase sexual desire, WebMd cautions that it may also cause sweating, so be prepared. Terra Vita produces loose leaf saffron tea, Buddha Teas offers a saffron and green tea, and GourmetFood.com carries a number of saffron tea fusions that pair saffron with flavors like peach, mango, cinnamon, citrus, and hibiscus.
3) Yohimbe Tea
Yohimbe is an evergreen tree native to central and western Africa. Its bark contains the chemical yohimbine, which increases blood flow to and activates nerves in the penis and vagina. If you’re looking for a tea that will make you tingle, reach for a yohimbe blend. Tea Haven sells Yohimbe Bark Tea in a variety of blends, as does Terra Vita.
4) Muira Puama Tea
Muira Puama is a tree that grows in the Amazon rainforest that also goes by the name “potency wood.” That sounds promising… This tree’s bark and root have been used medicinally for centuries, and today, the herb is used to curb erectile dysfunction and boost sexual desire. Terra Vita sells muira puama tea, as do Tea Haven and Gift From Nature.
5) Maca Root Tea
Maca is a Peruvian plant in the mustard/cabbage family that grows in the Andes Mountains. Its root has been used to treat erectile dysfunction and boost libido. Moringa Source sells maca tea bags, and Buddha Teas whips up Organic Maca Tea as well. Bonus: it smells like butterscotch!
6) Chocolate Tea
We’ve saved the best (known) for last: chocolate! Chocolate not only tastes great, it may increase your desire to get it on. Slight downer: the study from the University of Guelph found that while eating chocolate increased sexual desire, it did not yield actual arousal or satisfaction. So you’ll have to rely on your own skills in that department. There are a bevy of chocolate teas on the market, including: Tazo’s Cocoa Mint Maté, Bigelow’s Chocoalte Chai Tea, and Arbor Teas’ Organic Chocolate Pu Erh Tea.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
