The 10 Most Unusual Aphrodisiacs Around the World

From the Caribbean to the Philippine Sea, bull testes are considered an aphrodisiac in many parts of the world. They’re said to boost male libido and virility (given that they contain testosterone, albeit a limited amount), but these findings aren’t quite proven. Maybe it’s because prized bulls can impregnate up to eight cows a day?

In the Philippines, bull testes and penis are typically cooked in a soup called “Soup Number Five,” while in Jamaica, the concoction is known as “Cow Cod Soup” and includes yams, root vegetables, and scotch bonnet pepper for a fiery aftertaste. The town of Gornji Milanovac in Serbia even holds an annual World Testicle Cooking Championship in praise of the purportedly lustful food. It’s now the world’s largest and longest-running testicle cooking event and attracts nearly 1,000 visitors each year to see which team can cook up the best sacs from ostrich to kangaroo, boar, and of course, bull.

In the early-modern world, ambergris was prized for its “fertility, aphrodisiac, and rejuvenative remedies” and has been widely sought after for over a thousand years. It’s often called “floating gold,” given the rarity of this prized, waxy-like, aromatic substance. Ambergris is essentially whale vomit that is regurgitated from a sperm whale’s intestines and can be found washed up along seashores. It has a very distinctive, yet hard-to-define smell, but once it completely dries, it takes on a sultry, musky aroma. It’s this mystifying scent that’s believed to spur on arousal, and that’s why it was often added to high-grade perfumes. For instance, Chanel’s famous No. 5 perfume originally contained the substance as a base note, although most contemporary perfumeries use a synthetic version of it today.

According to the U.K.’s Natural History Museum, “early Arab civilisations named it anbar and used it as incense, an aphrodisiac and medicine to cure many ailments, including those of the brain, heart and senses.” Ancient Egyptians burned it as incense, and it was added to luxury culinary dishes across Medieval Europe. Even the notorious 18th-century lover (read: original f**k boi) Giacomo Casanova believed in its ability to awaken the loins and supposedly often added it to his chocolate mousse.

A fetal duck egg (a.k.a. a fertilized egg), popular in certain parts of Asia, contains a lot of protein, which is said to boost energy and sexual desire. It’s a common street food in Vietnam and the Philippines, and Anthony Bourdain famously ate balut on live television. It’s typically boiled and eaten right from the shell. If you can get past the feathers, texture, and psychological awareness of eating a tiny baby bird, Bourdain notes that its taste is actually not that bad. We’ll pass on trying it ourselves, but hey, if you’re looking to enhance your sex life, stop by a food stall in the Philippines and give it a shot.

Okay, enough with the animal-based aphrodisiacs already, at least for a bit. Maca, a root used in the Andes for thousands of years, is said to boost fertility, sexual desire, and stamina in both men and women. It’s native to Peru and a staple of the Andean diet but has spread around the world as a medicinal, nutrient-rich plant with adaptogenic properties. While the scientific proof of its arousal qualities are still up for debate, one study showed that sperm concentration went up by 14% in men, compared to the placebo group. Maca is also used by women, especially in wellness routines, and it’s believed to help with fertility, perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, reduce stress, and increase energy.

Similar to maca, ginseng is a popular root also thought to have aphrodisiac effects, as well as the potential to improve sexual function in both men and women and to stimulate blood flow. Typically used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance sexual behavior, several scientific studies actually back up these findings.

According to one study, there was a positive correlation with ginseng and copulatory performances in animals, and these effects were also confirmed in human control studies. The famed root also improved the “sperm quality and count” of men, and may even help with erectile dysfunction. Korean Red Ginseng, a variety of ginseng, “significantly improved sexual desire, arousal, orgasm” in another controlled study, so there may be more to this phallic-shaped root than meets the eye.

A delicacy and aphrodisiac in Korea, hagfish is believed to increase sexual stamina and potency. This might be a bit symbolic given its phallic shape, and when touched, it can produce a bunch of, well, slimy secretions. According to an article by NBC, it’s popular among older Korean men who eat it broiled in sesame oil or grilled as an appetizer, followed by a shot of liquor. Hagfish, also known as slime eel, has loose skin, whole-body flexibility, and an enviable size (when compared with human penises, that is), so it’s most likely a psychological aphrodisiac. While there’s no hard evidence for its sex enhancement in humans, sometimes all it takes is a long-standing belief for something to stick. But either way, hagfish is a sight to behold, that’s for sure.

According to folk medicine traditions in Argentina and Nicaragua, “cola de quirquincho” or armadillo tail is said to boost libido in men. It’s a plant (not an actual armadillo tail!) that’s also called Lizard Firmoss, and it thrives in dry, rocky habitats. Interestingly, one scientific study concluded that the plant actually stimulated sexual arousal in sexually experienced male rats and facilitated sexual execution. But here’s the kicker: the plant also induced copulation in noncopulating male rats, similar to sexually experienced animals. So, there may be some truth behind this libido-stimulating plant.

Ohhh, lovage. Even the word itself conjures a feeling of romantic awakening. Lovage is a perennial herb popular in Central Europe, though you don’t see it much in the United States (except at farmers’ markets). In the Middle Ages, lovage was a key ingredient in love elixirs and was carried as a magical charm, since it was believed to encourage affection and attract a suitor.

The taste resembles celery, just a bit stronger, and is often added to salads or soups or made into a tincture. As a healing tonic, some herbalists today include lovage in tinctures designed to help ease a broken heart or improve digestion. Its leaves are also sometimes used in ritual baths, especially in Poland, as it’s believed the plant will help ensure happiness and attract new love.

We’ve all heard about oysters as an aphrodisiac, and while there’s no concrete evidence that they boost your sex drive, this creature of the sea is primarily symbolic in its aphrodisiac qualities. For starters, it’s a sensual food that engages all the senses and is meant to be slurped right from the shell. Its sea watery, slippery texture is said to resemble the vagina, so any aphrodisiac effects (like the slimy hagfish) might be purely psychological. Still, oysters contain a lot of zinc, which can potentially boost libido, as well as tyrosine, an amino acid that helps with dopamine production.

It’s also interesting to note that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is associated with the sea, and her birth story involves springing from the foamy ocean from a shell (albeit a scallop shell). Sometimes these ancient stories and their symbolism seep into the collective consciousness and form deeply embedded associations, but also, maybe the goddess of love had a thing for bivalve mollusks.

Mondia whitei, or White’s ginger, is a bit different from your typical ginger, with a distinct taste (slightly bitter with a sweet, vanilla-like finish) and is considered an aphrodisiac throughout Africa. The versatile root is traditionally chewed, ground up, and brewed as a tea, or added to soups and other dishes, but it’s specifically believed to help boost libido, enhance sex, and help with male fertility and erectile dysfunction. In fact, there may be some evidence to support these claims, as well as the root’s antidepressant properties. It just goes to show that many of these ancient medicinal remedies, especially those that have existed for thousands of years, may actually work as aphrodisiacs.