Saturday, April 13, 2013

Licorice ~ Aphrodisiacs from A to Z

By Alcibiades (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Licorice, as far as I know, does not enjoy the wide appeal of its brasher cousin, ginger. (I dunno if they're in anyway related; I'm just callin' 'em cousins 'cause they both grow underground. Artistic license, OK?) (Gosh!)

Anyway, I find it a bit bizarre that, when I posted about anise, the similarity between its taste and that of licorice was almost universally disparaged by the chicks who commented. (I, myself, am not a fan.) AND YET, here 'tis, turning up as one of nature's aphrodisiacs.

"WTF?" you may ask.

Here's the thing: it's not the taste but the scent of licorice that turns us on.

No, really.

Y U SO SEX-AY?
Some guy did a study and learned that the scent of licorice, in combination with other specific scents, increased the flow of blood to the genitals of both male and female subjects by, like, a lot. (For dudes, it was a licorice/doughnut combo that got them frisky, and for the babes it was licorice/cucumber.)

Surreal.

Note that there were other scents that turned people on, the most effective among them being cinnamon buns. (Lawdhammercy, I knew there was a reason why I get all flushed whenever I near a Cinnabon. You know, apart from the obvious. Cinnabon, MMMMM!)

RECIPES

Click here to learn more about licorice.

Sources

34 comments:

  1. Love your posts, so funny and informative. I love the taste to licorice, and anise, but not ginger.

    I'll have to try the scent thing, won't tell hubby though, an experiment. Uzo, is that the correct spelling? (tastes like licorice) Now I know why the belly dancers - dance. . .

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    1. Aha! Sounds like a fine way of experimenting!

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  2. Hmm well I can handle the scent of it Mina, so I'd be willing to experiment lol. Seriously though holding a piece of licorice under the noses of myself and willing experiment participant might be a little awkward. Wonder if they make licorice scented candles or maybe incense? ;)

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    1. Well, there are loads of perfumes with licorice notes in them. Check out a Web site like Fragrantica or Base Notes for info.

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  3. I say "yea" to the cinnamon buns and "nay" to the licorice. I don't mind red licorice, but that black stuff (anise) makes me nauseous. :P

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    1. LOL, yeah, I'm definitely down with the cinnamon buns as well! :-)

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  4. I actually enjoy the smell and taste of licorice, ginger, and cinnamon buns. I should just stay out of the kitchen or I may explode. ;)

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  5. Mmm licorice. I always thought it tasted similar to aniseed...

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    1. As I researched recipes I saw that numerous recipes for licorice desserts called for anise extract.

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  6. Are you kidding me? Jagermeister, Sambuca (those are two drinks that are licorice flavored that fly off the shelves). It's way more popular than ginger for the inebriated masses of America (which is just about everyone including religious people who are closet alcoholics). GO USA!

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    1. ROTFL, it blows my mind that those liqueurs are so popular! :-)

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  7. Blech to licorice, but yummo to Cinnabon! :)

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  8. Fascinating! I'm not a big licorice fan, myself or anything anise ... inclusing Oozo, pernod, Galliano ... etc. Chocolate? YEAH!!!

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    1. Yeah, I'm totally with you on the chocolate, Rocky.

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  9. As I've gotten older, I've started liking the scent and taste of licorice more and more. Perhaps there's a connection...?

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  10. Greetings human,

    My alleged human, Gary, yes the alleged human I kindly allow to live with me, loves licorice. I think he deliberately buys great big boxes of licorice all-sorts, because he knows his son doesn't like licorice. Yes, he consumes the lot.

    Happy alpheting, human! :)

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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    1. Smart move. Unfortunately, my kid's as fond of chocolate as I am. :-)

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  11. Not a fan of licorice but I might have to make those pillsbury cinnamon buns in the fridge....

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    1. If your honey's not on the road tonight, I really think you'd better. ;-)

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  12. Licorice is lovely...never tried it with cucumbers though, haha. Love your theme for A-Z :)

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  13. Damn! Hubby eats licorice too! You're really opening my eyes to what makes him tick *wicked grin*

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    1. ROTFL! I love reading that some of this stuff really revs folks up!

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  14. Bwhaha. What completely random combinations that got people going. Licorice and cucumber?!! I'm all on board for the cinnamon buns though. And darn it now I want one! Great theme Mina!

    ~Anna
    herding cats & burning soup

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    1. I know, right; who thought up the licorice/cucumber combo??? And thanks, Anna!

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  15. Cinnabon and doughnuts? Hell yes. Licorice and cucumbers? Hell no.

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  16. I'll buy this.... I am all kinds of turned on by scents. A clean house is one of them. Especially when I am not the one who had to do it. Take out dinner is another... :)

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  17. @Maple Syrup Land - Agreed!

    @Juli - Take out smells divine! :-)

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  18. Oh my God licorice is so gross. The scent actually nauseates me. I just cannot imagine Twizzlers turning anyone on. LOL

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C'mon, post a comment. All the cool kids do.