It’s one of the most versatile foods in the world, adorning everything from meals with potatoes and pizza and even confections like cakes and pudding. Some people would consider it the “condiment extraordinaire” since it can be added to virtually anything, and yet it is still the most common hors d’oeuvre; savory or sweet, it’s nearly a staple at holiday gatherings, office galas, and the everyday dinner parties. It can be as cheap as a loaf of bread and as expensive as diamonds. But for our purposes and what might be quite possibly the most important element of all, it is a potent aphrodisiac. So, what is about this miraculous dairy that makes it so delectable?

We’re talking about cheese. It is a delicacy of European descent dating as far back as the seventh millennium. During Charlemagne's rule, churches and monastery estates between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers were cheese-making centers when the art first began to flourish in the early Middle Ages. In order to fully appreciate the craft of cheese making, we must go back to the very beginning when cheese was accidentally ‘galloped’ upon.

According to legend, the discovery of cheese was an accident, credited to an Arab nomad who spent countless days riding through the great desert lands. The legend says the nomad carried milk in a goatskin bag to help quench his thirst on the long journey. On one particular rest stop, the man was surprised to discover that the milk had separated into a watery liquid, which we now call whey and sticky curds, or what is commonly called ‘cheese.’ The bag that was carrying the milk was made from animal bladder and it contained an enzyme, rennin, which is responsible for the coagulation of milk. The friction caused by horse riding in combination with the sunshine assisted in the process of the birth of cheese (don’t try this at home).

Its sexual roots began almost simultaneously with its discovery and since then have been culturally embraced for generations. Cheese has long been embraced in the Italian culture as an aphrodisiac because of its importance in the culinary act. In this culture, food is important to family and traditions and is a medium in which to celebrate and embrace this institution. Cheese is a staple in the finishing touches of almost every Italian dish. It is warm, enticing and delicious, in which its scent and taste adds a comforting touch of home. Scent is an important factor here as with many aphrodisiacs. In Europe, cheese is thought to mimic the scent of a woman. The connection between sexual arousal and culinary scent comments has been researched extensively in Australia. These studies have acted to confirm the idea that scent acts as an artificial trigger to arousal. The study has conclusively confirmed that the five-carbon fatty acid that gives most cheeses their flavor is a close relative to a mid-cycle vaginal pheromone.

Cheese is in familiar company with two other very important aphrodisiac foods. First off, the properties in cheese are similar to that of chocolate, one of the first and most famously well-known aphrodisiacs on Earth. When chocolate was discovered over 2,000 years ago, its delicate nature and sensual properties quickly catapulted into the fame of sexually coercive foods. It quickly became a sexual sweet on mere taste and luxury alone.

For many years, chocolate’s lure was in its taste and smell. It wasn’t until much later that we understood why chocolate was so arousing. Chocolate contains an important chemical that aides in the drive of hormones. This enzyme is believed to release the same rush of hormones one experiences during sexual intercourse. Cheese, on the other hand, contains 10 times as much of this enzyme, known as phenylethylamine (PEA). But, that’s not all. Cheese is relative in other ways to yet another famous aphrodisiac that shares this common ground. In famous French tradition, cheese is paired with wine. With alcohol being the celebrity of social lubrication and the sex-charged nature of cheese, this is one romantic and seductive combination.

As you may have learned from past articles, the power of aphrodisiacs doesn’t always have to do with the biology and makeup of the food or material. One very important aspect of an aphrodisiac is its physicality, the phallic representation, and the way it ultimately makes you feel. As important as the selection of wine is, so too is the selection of cheese. Does it taste good, does it look good, will it smell good, and most importantly does it feel good? Cheese is handcrafted and transformed into cheese by artisan hands; this sensual art and diligent care makes cheese a potent emblem of lust.

The sexual secrets of cheese are not only in its chemical urges and sensual taste, but also in its health benefits. As with all aphrodisiacs, it is important that the food be good for the overall health of the body. Strength, conditioning, a healthy heart, and good circulation is important to performing at the height of sexual gratification. Cheese is made of highly nutritive ingredients, rich in proteins and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, and A and B complex vitamins.

The British Nutrition Foundation confirmed in a report in 1999 that a piece of cheese after a meal helps prevent caries. Cheese contains valuable amounts of milk. Since milk fat is easily digestible and soluble in fat, the nutrients in milk, which include vitamins A, D, and E are also easily soluble in the body. Cheese also contains highly valuable proteins, which contain amino acids. (Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.) The human body cannot produce amino acids on its own, so biologically this is a very important nutrient.

The nutritious values and stimulating elements in cheese will not only aide in the function of the body, but will help improve the general body condition, and protect us from excessive stress. Since stress is the leading cause of sexual dysfunction, this positive element is a very important plus.

So, cheese fulfills all the most important qualities of a satisfying aphrodisiac. Its chemical makeup and enzymes can help the body mimic the act of sex. Its nutrients and vitamins improve the overall health and strength of the body. Its versatility allows it to be easily manipulated for human use. It is handcrafted with love and sensuality to be enjoyed on these very same principles.