Hot Stuff
If you are looking for a cozy valentine drink to warm up those cold winter days, here is a recipe for a love potion with the combined aphrodisiac effects of chocolate and chilli peppers.
Chocolate has long been known to produce feelings of pleasure through its release of small amounts of endorphins when consumed. Trytophan is involved in seratonin production and phenylethylamine is a substance released in the brain when people are in love…..so as an aphrodisiac these are definite psychological effects.
But what if you combined it with chili peppers, whose known aphrodisiac qualities produce a more physiological effect on the body. Here is where the heat gets turned up. The capsaicin chemical contained in chilli peppers can elevate your pulse, make you tear up, release endorphins, cause you to sweat and intensify nerve sensitivity….not to mention the burning tingling sensations you can get from eating or touching chili peppers. The hotter the pepper the more capsaicin; usually the red chilies are the hottest and the colour red is symbolic of the fire and heat of love and passion. So without a doubt, the chili pepper has all the components to be associated with spicy hot passion.
Now you can turn up the heat this Valentine’s day and surprise someone with a double whammy love potion.
Here is a little recipe to get the romance going!
3 cups of milk
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon The Epicentre’s chipotle chili powder
Heat milk, cinnamon stick, star anise and vanilla in a small sauce pan, on medium low heat until a bit of foam and steam form at the top. In two mugs or cups divide the cocoa, sugar, chocolate chips and chili powder. Add hot milk and stir.
