Updated Ancient Ethnic, Natural Aphrodisiacs for V-Day

Prone Tiger and Lotus Blossom (see photo above taken by Somrus) give a hint of the exotic even in the “everything old is new again,” comes the idea of natural and ancient herbs, spices, chocolate and nuts to inspire this year’s Somrus (www.somrus.com) cocktails  for Valentine’s Day.  The  Soma-Sutra recipe book available online.  Recipes and photos are below.

Rose: Everyone knows how indispensable roses are in romance. The very scent of the essential oil from the flower is known to be stimulating.

Cardamom: In the Arabian Nights, you can read of the use of this ancient spice as an aphrodisiac. Cardamom is warming and pungent, and can increase blood flow and passion.

Almonds: The aroma of almonds supposedly arouses passion in females — or so thought the poets and scribes of bygone eras. French writer Alexandre Dumas dined on almond soup every night.

Saffron: Worth its weight in gold, Cleopatra was said to bathe in saffron-infused water before initiating any important intimate rendezvous. Saffron’s reputed longstanding aphrodisiac properties revolve around Crocin, a natural carotenoid chemical and potent anti-oxidant found in saffron threads.

Pistachio: In central Asia and India, it is believed that pistachios arouse sexuality and cleanse the blood.

Recipes:

Sexy Chocolate (Serves 2)

• 8oz Somrus
• Preferred drinking chocolate
• ½ cup Strawberries

Served in in sharing bowl

Using SomruS instead of milk or cream to prepare your favorite hot chocolate in a pan.  Add your preferred drinking chocolate.  Be careful to gently warm the Somrus so it does not boil

Transfer to a blender and add chocolate mix and strawberries.  Blend until smooth.

Add mix back to the pan and warm.

Serve in a sharing bowl or two glasses.

Serve with a platter of sweet treats to dip and share.

 

Suspended Congress – layered shot

• 1/4oz Kahlua
• 1/4oz White Crème De Cacao
• 1/4oz Amaretto
• 1/4oz Somrus

Using a bar spoon to slow the pour, add each liqueur in the order above to a shot glass except the Somrus.  Add this last  with the Somrus added last to sit on top for the aromatics

Garnish with chocolate shavings

Prone Tiger

• 2oz Somrus
• 1.5oz Aged Rum

Combine the two liquors.  Garnish with cinnamon stick stirrer

Lotus Blossom

• 1.5oz Somrus
• 1oz Cognac
• 1.5oz Almond Milk
• 3/4oz Cardamom Syrup
• ½ oz Green Chartreuse

For rose smoke finish,  run dried rose petals through a smoking gun or ignite dried rose petals and cover with drinking glass to trap smoke.

Add all ingredients to shaker and shake with ice

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with rose smoke