If you could create one recipe and pack it full of libido-boosting ingredients, what would your recipe be? If you thought Thai curry, you’re on the right track to spicing up your sex life. One could easily make an argument that Thai curry is the aphrodisiac of all aphrodisiacs. In a world swimming with suggestions on how to get the spice back in your bedroom life, a meal with Thai curry on the menu may be the perfect recipe for good old-fashioned lovin’.

Curry Rainbow

Curry is a staple dish of Thailand with dozens of different types to choose from—green curry, red curry, yellow curry, orange curry, etc. Most curries share the majority of libido-enhancing ingredients. They are referenced by their color which comes from the color of the curry paste used.  By far, the most popular Thai curries, red and green, get their distinctive hue from the color of Thai chili pepper used. 

In a recent poll conducted by takeaway company Just-Eat, Thai green curry took the top spot, containing more ingredients classified as aphrodisiacs than any other takeaway choice. This poll, however, included ingredients not traditionally used in a Thai green curry recipe, i.e. cardamom, ginseng, ginger and asparagus. 
Although recipes may vary from chef to chef and the abovementioned ingredients are celebrated as having aphrodisiac properties, they are not considered traditional ingredients in Thai curry.  So, in all fairness to other Thai curries, ingredient for ingredient, you’ll get the same bang for your aphrodisiac buck from any of the wide variety of curries.

Traditionally, most Thai curry recipes are soupy and call for a paste made up of a number of spices known to rev up the libido. As noted in The Original Thai Cookbook, this paste has a wet consistency and is “made up of mainly fresh herbs and spices.” Thai chili peppers, coriander, cumin, galangal, garlic and lemongrass are among the key ingredients in this base—each one loaded with aphrodisiac properties. Mix in coconut milk, palm sugar, and fish sauce, then garnish with sweet basil and coriander leaves and you’ve got a healthy Thai curry sauce that can be combined with meats, herbs, vegetables and fruits.

In Thailand there are basically two broad categories of curry—coconut milk-based and water-based. Coconut-based curries such as red, green, yellow, massaman and panang are more familiar in the West, whereas water-based curries such as sour curry and jungle curry are more familiar in the East. Water-based curry is generally spicier than its coconut-based counterpart because the fat in the coconut milk alleviates some of the chili peppers’ heat.

The ABCs of Thai Curry

“B” is for Bedroom

An important aphrodisiac ingredient in Thai curry is basil, an alluringly fragrant member of the mint family. In Thai curry, basil is added as a garnish and is not part of the paste. 

For centuries, basil has been considered a stimulant to sex drive. Not only has it been said to boost fertility, but there have also been claims of it producing a general sense of well being.  History tells us that women dusted their breasts with powdered basil because the scent alone was said to drive men wild.
Basil has been used in some cultures as an ingredient in love spells and has been associated with the pagan love goddess, Erzulie. Sweet basil is known as “kiss me Nicholas” in Italy and is thought to attract husbands to wives. Romanian folklore claims that if a man accepts a sprig of basil from a woman, he will fall in love with her.

“C” is for Copulation

Coriander’s use as an aphrodisiac dates as far back as ancient Egypt. The spicy scent of essential oils derived from the seeds of coriander plants promote a sense of calm, euphoria and relaxation and have been known to eliminate inhibiting anxieties or distractions. This is excellent news for anyone who wants to leave anxieties and distractions outside the bedroom door where they belong.

During the Middle Ages, herbs such a coriander was mixed together into a drink called “Hipocras” that was often served at weddings. Imported to Europe by members of the Crusades and later exported to many South American nations, it became banned for overstimulating the libido. 

Coriander’s mystical aphrodisiac properties have been used in Chinese love potions. The Arabian Nights tells the tale of a merchant unable to have children for 40 years. After ingesting a concoction that included coriander, the man was miraculously cured and went on to become a father.

Cumin is another ingredient with known aphrodisiac properties and came to be regarded as a symbol of love and fidelity when it was discovered in Europe during the Middle Ages. The spice was thought to possess enough power to keep a spouse from wandering away and wives started sending their husbands off to war carrying a loaf of cumin bread under their arms. How’s that for a send-off?

Chili peppers are yet another component of the perfect Thai curry. Chili peppers contain a chemical called capsaicin that stimulates nerve endings, raises pulse rates, makes us sweat and triggers the release of endorphins. According to an article in Discovery Health, it’s this release of natural endorphins that gives us a “natural high that is conducive to lovemaking.”

“G” is for G-Spot

Galangal and garlic are two more ingredients that not only add to the flavor of Thai curry, but could possibly produce profoundly enthusiastic lovers unable to be deterred from the search for the proverbial sexual grail—the discovery of that long searched for, sometimes elusive, yet eagerly anticipated Grafenburg spot.
Galangal is said to have the effect of an aphrodisiac, stimulant and impotence treatment. As a matter of fact, a 12th century herbal writer once said, “If there would be an herb to wake up the dead, then galangal would be the first choice.” Step aside Viagra.

In Thailand, galangal is sometimes classified among herbs categorized as wahn. Wahn is said to have magical powers and was reportedly worn in medieval Europe among certain medicine people. The galangal root was worn as “a protection against evil influences and as an enhancer of virility.” 
Garlic—it’s not used to ward off vampires in Thai food. Considered a “hot herb,” garlic has had a long standing as an aphrodisiac, especially with the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Garlic’s reputation for inflaming passion might be attributed to its warming effects and had led to garlic-eating Tibetan monks being forbidden from entering monasteries, but according to this site, “Rabbis of Blessed memory have stated that there are five benefits for those who eat garlic: It satisfies one’s hunger, it warms the body, brightens the face, increases semen, and kills stomach lice.” 
Garlic is said to increase love and remove jealousy. Although research does suggest that garlic’s ability to improve blood circulation could help men experiencing impotence with improved sexual functioning, normal levels of garlic consumption would not be sufficient enough. This is easily remedied, however. Consider taking garlic supplements. 

“L” is for Lust

Lemongrass, considered a magical herb, is associated with masculinity and lust. Folklore asserts that carrying lemongrass will attract the object of your desire.  As food and nutrition play a vital role in our sex lives, lemongrass is an all-around healthy addition to any diet.  A favorite ingredient in Asian cooking, lemongrass enhances sex by rejuvenating sexual function and improving the libido by building up a healthy body. 
Pick a color…any color—be it red, green or yellow. No matter what your mood, Thai curry offers an array of colorful sex-enhancing choices.