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Cacao benefits | Cacao experience | Ceremonial cacao | Conscious relationship | Sex | Spiritual relationship
We all know of chocolate’s sensual allure. Beginning as a symbol of fertility and sexual enhancement in Mayan times, this once-sacred beverage has become the token aphrodisiac of love, pleasure, and romance across the modern world. From Valentine's day gifts to indulgent desserts, few people haven’t been wooed by its delicious, irresistible influence. Is there any truth to the whispers of its performance-enhancing and libido-boosting abilities? Let’s explore how Cacao traveled across the planet to find its way into our hearts... and bedrooms!
Table of Content:
• How Do Aphrodisiacs Affect Us?
• The Original, Sacred Use of Cacao as an Aphrodisiac
• How Cacao Influences Our Sexual Energy
• Seduced by Sweetness - Chocolate’s Role in Love & Romance Today
• How to Utilize the Love Drug - the Gold Standard of Chocolate
We’ve heard of aphrodisiacs in the movies and through tongue-in-cheek conversations with friends, but what are they really? Well, an aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, attraction, pleasure, or sexual behavior. Such substances range from various plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals – and yes, the world’s beloved chocolate ranks most highly on this list!
Before chocolate was as we know it today –an overly indulgent sweet treat of milk powders, hydrogenated fats, and artificial sweeteners– it was originally renowned as a sacred sacrament across the tribes and indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. Looking into the etymology of Theobroma Cacao –the scientific name of the tree bearing the Cacao fruit from which chocolate originates– we learn that Theo translates to God and Broma to Food. Cacao literally means ‘Food of The Gods,’ a testimony to its great significance as a symbol of luxury, fertility, and more across Central & South America.
The Aztecs were the first to discover chocolate’s potential as an aphrodisiac. It was believed that Cacao beans, which they turned into a drink, had divine powers and could boost sexual prowess. The Mayans also used Cacao in their rituals, giving beans to young couples on their wedding nights for use during honeymoons! They believed that drinking it before bedtime would help increase fertility.
By one account, the 16th-century Aztec ruler Montezuma II drank 50 cups of chocolate a day from a golden goblet to increase his libido. Even the ancient Egyptians drank Cacao mixed with honey for energy before acting upon their desires!
The Spanish are said to have brought back Cacao to Europe because of its aphrodisiacal qualities. Conquistador Bernal Díaz de Castillo shares that he was once brought cups of fine gold with a drink of Cacao, “which proved to be a success with the women.”
Whether that statement was true or not, the whispers of Cacao’s potential could not stop it from spreading throughout Europe as an alluring aphrodisiac from the 1500s and beyond. Once the hydraulic press was invented, which no longer required Cacao to be drunk, Cacao became available to every household, not just the elite few.
How does Cacao affect our sexuality, though? Well, it’s a little-known secret that what we associate as a naughty treat among friends is indeed a little naughtier than meets the eye. Cacao contains a truckload of naturally occurring chemicals that influence our mood, energy, blood flow, and even sexual function.
Phenylethylamine, also known as the body’s natural ecstasy, triggers a release of hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin to create feelings of euphoria and connection, inspiring us more bravely to make that move. It has been proven that the release of these hormones replicates the feelings of real love we experience with another person. Why else would we reach for the tub of Ben n Jerrys' after a shattering heartbreak?
Cacao also contains Theobromine, a heart opener. This natural stimulant is responsible for sending more blood flow not only around our heart space which encourages feelings of love, connection, and expansiveness but all over our bodies (if you know what I mean).
Drinking Cacao also stimulates the hypothalamus, which induces pleasurable sensations and increases serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is involved in mood enhancement, sleep regulation, and sexual arousal. Basically, serotonin makes us feel good! When we feel good in body and mind, we are more ready to explore our sensuality, whether alone or with another person.
When we live in fight-or-flight mode, it is not uncommon for women to experience a drop in their pleasure potential while men suffer from performance issues. To reach our full sexual potential, it is imperative to first feel safe within our bodies which Cacao provides through a high concentration of magnesium. Redirecting us from our head toward our heart as our nervous system relaxes, Cacao allows us to release fear we may be holding around vulnerability and sexual exploration. Whether experiencing intimacy with ourselves or another person, we can more easily connect to our bodies from a heart-centered place – inspiring more romance, confidence, and authenticity in every relationship.
Original advertising of chocolate throughout Europe often featured women providing chocolate to their families. By placing chocolate at the centerpiece of the family bond, we are reminded of the original role Cacao played in marriage and fertility for the Maya. However, moving towards more progressive times, we can observe how advertising in chocolate has evolved to mirror the sexualization of women. Often, these advertisements are targeted towards women as a way of “encouraging self-indulgence for a food that provides feelings equated to sex and love.”
This advertising has proven extremely successful in today’s era of gifting chocolate for every special occasion. It has made chocolate internationally recognized as a symbol of love, appreciation, and affection for those we care about. More than a gesture, though, according to a study from the journal of Social & Personal Relationships, eating something sweet can lead to heightened feelings of romance! Because we think metaphorically to understand the world more deeply, we naturally associate ‘sweet’ flavors with positive feelings. People in the study were more romantically inclined if they were in the group that had their sweet tooth treated. Love is sweet, after all!
Wait! Before you run out to buy a trolley full of Snickers for your kitchen cupboards, it’s essential to know that not all Cacao is made the same. Modern chocolate’s heavy processing, sugars, and milk products affect many of the naturally occurring chemicals. Commercialized, industrially processed chocolate contains very few of the ‘magic qualities’ mentioned. So, how can we drink or consume Cacao without all of the negative attributes but with all the magic still intact?
By drinking 100% Pure Ceremonial Grade Cacao! Our Cacao is grown naturally in the Guatemalan rainforests, the same way it has grown naturally for thousands of years. Every Keith’s Cacao brick sold goes directly back into the hands of the Guatemalan farmers and workers that make our gold-standard Cacao what it is.
The best part? How you choose to use it is up to you! Allow Keith’s Cacao to become your playground for spiritual, sacred, or sensual exploration. Whether you up the ante with more aphrodisiac spices or play it cool with dairy-free milk and natural sweeteners, your hot steaming drink of Cacao is destined to satisfy even the choosiest of taste buds.
Want to try our Love-Inspired Cacao Vanilla & Rose Petal Toffee?- https://www.keithscacao.com/blogs/recipes/cacao-rose-raspberry-bliss-ball
Sources:
https://mrpoppleschocolate.co.uk/a-taste-of-love-why-chocolate-is-an-ancient-aphrodisiac-2/
https://chocolateclass.wordpress.com/2019/03/16/55968/
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/sex-life/a26282708/aphrodisiac-foods/
https://www.mic.com/articles/105736/science-reveals-surprising-connection-between-chocolate-and-love
https://chocovivo.com/blogs/news/dark-chocolate-and-love-5-lovely-properties-of-dark-chocolate
https://toakchocolate.com/blogs/news/is-chocolate-really-an-aphrodisiac
