Is Hot Sauce an Aphrodisiac?

Most of us love spicy dishes for their irresistible flavor—but piquant foods like hot sauce just might have some equally pleasant side-effects in the bedroom. To put it bluntly, it’s entirely possible that a healthy dose of hot sauce could serve to spice up your sex life, too.

Of course, the idea that spicy foods stimulate sexual desire is anything new. Even the ancient Indian Kama Sutra, one of the world’s most widely read guides on eroticism, makes mention of it, suggesting that men apply a powdered pepper concoction to their nether regions as a tactic for seduction.

To be frank, dousing your genitals in chili powder is 100% a terrible idea that will likely end with an embarrassing sexual encounter and a trip to the emergency room. But that doesn’t mean spicy foods have no sexual enhancement properties. In fact, many believe hot sauce to be one of the most effective aphrodisiacs.

What’s an Aphrodisiac?

An aphrodisiac is a substance (most often a food or beverage) that triggers feelings of lust and attraction and/or boost sexual performance. Named for Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, aphrodisiacs are said to deliver a unique cocktail of chemicals and hormones that make their consumers feel a little more “in the mood.”

Over time, foods like chocolate, oysters, lobster, asparagus, and pomegranates have gained reputations as libido-boosting superfoods. Alcohol also makes the list—suggesting there might be something scientific behind the comical concept of “beer goggles.”

Hot peppers (such as the chilies used to create most hot sauces) are also commonly considered one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs. But when it comes to these so-called “sexy foods,” do they really work, or is it a bunch of pseudo-science?

Hot Sauce Titillates More Than Your Taste Buds

When it comes to hot sauce’s fiery kick, we have a chemical compound called “capsaicin” to thank. Among capsaicin’s many health benefits, it’s proven to increase blood flow, boost stamina, and stimulate nerve endings on the tongue—one of your body’s most sensitive regions.

Consuming capsaicin also floods your brain with powerful endorphins. This unique cocktail of feel-good chemicals is comparable to the euphoric rush adrenaline junkies experience after flinging themselves off a cliff or jumping out of a plane.

Additionally, capsaicin’s well-known side effects (think sweating, increased heart rate, and the onset of a flushed complexion) pretty closely mimic arousal, suggesting that hot sauce really might ignite sparks that carry from the kitchen to the bedroom.

The Bottom Line: Is Hot Sauce an Aphrodisiac?

Is hot sauce a powerful aphrodisiac? The short answer is likely yes. Most spicy foods undeniably contain chemical properties that will wake up your senses and raise your body temperature. That said, no food can truly be hailed as an all-powerful love potion.

While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially maintains that support for aphrodisiacs in general is 100% unscientific, the anecdotal evidence is certainly nothing to bat an eye at, either.

At the end of the day, how capsaicin affects your mood is largely determined by your body chemistry and individual taste. After all, arousal is more psychological than physical. So if you love the way hot sauce tastes, there’s a fairly good chance it will spice things up for you in the sack, too. In other words, next Valentine’s Day you just might want to ditch the box of chocolates and grab your sweetheart an assortment of African Dream Foods hot sauces instead.

To see our full range of temperature-increasing, heart-rate-quickening, flush-inducing hot sauces, seasonings and spices, simply click here.