If you are a fan of Shakespeare then you already know that he has long considered apricots an aphrodisiac. In his tale A Midsummer Night’s Dream he wrote about women using the fruit as an inducer of childbirth. This was something that was also depicted in John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. Is this actually the case?
The Apricot History
If you put in some research, you’ll quickly discover that it was in China where the apricot originated. Although they were probably known by a different name, it was from here that they were brought westward and introduced into Asia Minor and Europe. It is the Spanish explorer that is credited for introducing the fruit to North America, specifically California. This is where they were planted in the gardens of Spanish missions. In 1910 it was reported that nearly 97 percent of all apricots grown in the United States were grown in California. So, when did the fruit become a known aphrodisiac and why is it considered one in the first place?
What Makes Apricots so potent?
There is simply no denying that the apricot is filled with a plethora of good compounds that make it an excellent choice for fighting heart disease along with other unwanted health conditions. It is the potassium combined with the powerful antioxidants: beta-carotene, Vitamin C, and Lycopene that make the fruit perfect for protecting against heart disease and fighting cancer. However, it is the abscisic acid or B-17 that activates, invigorates, and sustains the sexual hormones in the body. It should also be noted that abscisic acid is also a viable ingredient with cancer-preventing properties.
Best Ways To Consume Apricots As Aphrodisiacs
While apricots can provide you with aphrodisiac effects, they are nowhere as near as effective as the seed itself. That’s right, the apricot fruit itself does not provide you with the comprehensive benefits of their seeds. Most experts would recommend consuming 5 to 15 apricot seeds several hours before you expect to engage in any sexual intimacy. On the other side of the world, the Australian aboriginals were also using the apricot as an aphrodisiac. They were just doing it in a different manner. In this part of the world, they believed in using the pit or kernel and stepping it as a tea. The flesh of the fruit could be crushed and rubbed on the suitor’s erogenous zones as a pre-coital perfume.