The Mayas and Aztecs both believed that chocolate has
aphrodisiac properties and there may be some truth in that
as chocolate contains phenylethylamine, an amphetamine-like
substance that is more abundant in the brains of people who
fall in love.
There is quite a bit about this subject on the web. A
couple of links are given below but there are many more.
Chocolate: Food of the Gods
http://www.clpgh.org/cmag/bk_issue/1997/janfeb/dept6.htm
Is chocolate an aphrodisiac?
http://www.doctorgeorge.com/sex/relationships/is_cholocate_an_aphrodisiac.htm
It seems harder to find sources in print. However, I am
sure a thorough search of abstracts journals in fields such
as the medical sciences, biology and chemistry would
uncover relevant articles. Also there have been a number of
books written about the history of chocolate, e.g. the two
below, and although I haven't seen them I would be
surprised if they did not mention its alleged properities
as an aphrodisiac.
The True History of Chocolate by Sophie D. Coe, Michael D.
Coe.
The Chocolate Tree : A Natural History of
Cacao (Smithsonian Nature Books) by Allen M. Young.
On Fri, 1 Dec 2000 09:35:40 -0000 Andrew Madden
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The idea that chocolate has aphrodisiac properties has been around for a
> long time. Both Casanova and the Marquis de Sade are supposed to have found
> in beneficial in the pursuance of their leisure activities. I<RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK>ve been asked
> to find some published sources which could give an insight into how and when
> the idea arose. So far I<RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK>ve drawn a blank. I<RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK>d be grateful if anybody had
> any suggestions for where I might look.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Andrew Madden
>
>
> Dr A.D. Madden
> JFS
> Learning Resources Centre
> 175 Camden Rd
> London, NW1 9HD
>
> 020 7485 9416
>
>
----------
Roy Davies
University Library
University of Exeter
Stocker Road
Exeter EX4 4PT
UK
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/
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