February 14th is the birthday of love. Valentine's Day is the most romantic holiday of the year, an occasion to which all lovers are invited: from those who have just exchanged their first kiss to those who have celebrated their diamond wedding. Spices can be precious allies to make this day even more special.
Europrodotti accompanies you in exploring the sensual properties of cinnamon, ginger and chilli, an infallible trio of spices for a Valentine's Day that stimulates the senses and adds a touch of pepper to your relationship.
Cinnamon: the warmth of love
Cinnamon is a spice famous for its sweet and enveloping aroma used since ancient times as an aphrodisiac. It is obtained from the internal bark of the Cinnamomum tree which is part of the Lauraceae family, the same to which the laurel also belongs.
The essential oil extracted from the leaves and branches of the cinnamon tree offers a strong and penetrating odor. In the past it was used by lovers to stimulate sexual appetites. Even the scent of cinnamon powder and sticks has stirring effects. The scientific explanation for this effect is due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde, an organic substance which, in addition to giving the characteristic flavor and smell of cinnamon, stimulates blood circulation, increases body temperature and excites the nervous system. In fact, in the language of spices, cinnamon is a symbol of warmth, affection and intimacy.
Cinnamon is a fixed ingredient in exotic condiments such as Indian curry and garam masala or Arabic baharat and ras el hanout. These spice blends can be used to prepare refined rice, fish and meat dishes for your Valentine's Day menu.
For dessert we suggest offering your partner a tray of biscuits of joy, the sweets created by the medieval mystic Hildegard of Bingen to fortify the senses and cheer up the spirit. The recipe for these biscuits is very simple and is based on a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, honey, butter, eggs and spelled flour cooked in the oven for a quarter of an hour.
However, if you prefer a more traditional dessert, we suggest you a cup of hot chocolate on which to pulverize a cinnamon stick when you serve it to release the maximum fragrance.
To make the evening even more romantic organize a candlelit dinner with the aroma of cinnamon.
Ginger: the exotic touch that stimulates the senses
Ginger is another spice known for centuries for its aphrodisiac properties. It is extracted from the rhizome of the Zingiber plant native to India. To get an idea of its beneficial effects on health, just think that the Indians call ginger maha aushadhi, or the great medicine. However, here we are mainly interested in its sensual properties.
Ginger contains compounds such as gingerol that act as nervous system stimulants with positive impacts on mood and arousal. It also belongs to the category of hot spices, such as black pepper, turmeric and nutmeg. All these spices have the ability to raise body temperature and promote a feeling of well-being and vitality, increasing physical energy and above all libido.
For a Valentine's Day that you will always remember with pleasure start with a ginger aperitif such as the famous Moscow Mule. This cocktail invented in New York in the 1940s is a pleasant mix of vodka, lemon, ice and ginger ale.
For dinner you can prepare a simple but tasty ginger sauce by chopping this spice with some shallots and mixing with extra virgin olive oil. This sauce is excellent alongside white meat, grilled fish and raw vegetables.
A cup of candied ginger is a dessert that anticipates an even sweeter moment of your evening.
Chili pepper: the intensity of desire
Chili pepper is the spice capable by definition of brightening up the atmosphere of a romantic moment. What we consume is the dried fruit of the plants of the Genus Capsicum of the Solanaceae family, which also includes peppers, potatoes, aubergines and tomatoes.
Chili pepper is one of the richest sources of capsacinoids and capsinoids, antioxidant compounds considered a true elixir of long life. Capsaicin has the ability to stimulate nerve endings by increasing blood flow, including that in erogenous zones. The result is a feeling of euphoria that significantly promotes sexual response.
For a slightly fiery Valentine's Day create the right atmosphere with a drink like the Spicy Margarita, a variant of the famous Margarita that adds a slice of fresh chilli pepper to the Tequila and Cointreau-based cocktail.
Chili pepper often appears in the spicy recipes of La cucina impudica (The shameless kitchen), a treatise on gastronomy and erotic anecdotes written in Paris in the 1930s by a woman who intensely experienced that period in the history of the Ville Lumière. We suggest you to try the piperade, a green chilli fondue with ham.
As a dessert a chocolate and chilli cake combines the flavors of cocoa and chilli. These are opposite flavors but as we all know opposites attract, just like certain lovers.
Cinnamon, ginger and chilli pepper are not just cooking spices but true allies of love. Europrodotti selects the best qualities of these ingredients to help you to transform your Valentine's Day into an unforgettable experience, capable of leaving a sweet and spicy memory in the hearts of those you love.