Forget figs, oysters and chocolate. If you want to get in the mood these foods are supposed to stimulate the parts others simply cannot reach, although we can't vouch for their effects. And you might find some a lot more palatable than others...

Did you know that bananas contain bromelain, which stimulates testosterone production, and B vitamins, which can help regulate sex hormones and increase desire? Bananas also contain slow-releasing carbohydrates that keep energy levels steady.

In Zimbabwe baboon urine is seen as a pick-me-up and potent aphrodisiac, especially when it’s drunk with beer. However, reputable inyangas (healers) apparently advise against using it as a child conceived while using it will take on baboon-like characteristics, such as stealing.

The Greeks revered basil as a royal herb, and it's a symbol of love in parts of Italy. It boosts circulation and its fragrance is meant to alleviate headaches so there’s no excuses to turn your amour down.

This Chinese delicacy has a reputation for getting people in the mood. Made from swiftlets’ saliva, the nests are found in dark caves and are difficult to source. Expensive and relatively rare, which may enhance its appeal, bird’s nest soup is definitely an acquired taste.

Numerous cultures, including Hindus, believed licorice helped get them in the mood – and stay in the mood. This was backed up by Alan R. Hirsch, the neurological director of Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, who researches the effect aromas have on sexual desire.

The same Alan R. Hirsch also found that the smell of buttered popcorn had an arousing effect on men, which may make you look at a cinema trip in a whole new light.

Cardamom is a fragrant spice that’s been used for centuries to treat sexual dysfunction. One of its properties is cineole, which can increase blood flow when applied directly.

Spicy and warming, this vivid orange pepper improves circulation to literally get the blood flowing. It brings warmth to the body, reacts with endorphins to lift mood which creates a sense of wellbeing, and speeds up the heart rate.

Cobra consumption is popular in certain parts of Asia, notably China and Vietnam. The meat is seen as a delicacy while the blood, bile and other parts of the snake are mixed with alcohol to make wine, then drunk to encourage feelings of lust.

Tea has been made from this Mexican plant for millennia (the Mayans were partial to a cup or two) and it’s long since been thought to heighten sexual desire by boosting circulation and increasing sensitivity.

According to an Australian study, men who took fenugreek supplements twice a day for six weeks saw their libidos increase by 25%. It’s believed the herb, which is often used in curries, has a positive effect on testosterone and androgen levels.

If you like your aphrodisiacs deadly this is the food for you. If fugu (a type of blowfish) isn’t prepared properly its toxins can kill, so Japanese chefs need a special license to prepare it. When eaten it can cause the lips to tingle and have a stimulating effect.

Its pungent reputation may not make it the first port of call on a first date but garlic’s ability to improve the circulation (thanks to the presence of allicin) has long made it a sage choice by men wishing to increase blood flow to those all-important areas.

They’re touted as a superfood with a host of health benefits, and in Asian countries they’re also seen as an important food for sexual potency. According to NaturalNews.com, the berries stimulate human growth hormone (HGH), which promotes desire, while in China they’re called ‘happy berries’ because they fortify the adrenal system, to encourage energy.

Traditionally given, roasted, to newlyweds in Colombia for their wedding night, these giant ants pack a big protein punch which will certainly help sustain energy levels.

Popular in Central and South America, maca is a root that, when ground and consumed, has been shown to boost libido. Also known as Peruvian ginseng, it’s an adaptogenic herb (adaptogens help the body cope with physical and emotional stress) that research has found can increase sperm count and motility. Maca is also rich in plant sterols, which act like a steroid, providing energy and stamina.

Also called moringa oleifera, this plant is popular in the Philippines. It’s drunk as a tea and is thought to have a Viagra-like effect, and can also help increase sperm count. Not only that, it’s anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, and new mothers can drink it to increase lactation.

The concoction bhang lassi – the psychotropic spiced milky drink beloved of young travellers visiting India – dates as far back as the seventh century when it was drunk to heighten the senses and bring about arousal.

A bowl of porridge may not the sexiest food that comes to mind, but oatmeal can enhance testosterone and raise libido, which may explain the saying about men 'sowing their wild oats'.

Foods that are hard to source often become aphrodisiacs because their rarity makes them appealing. Pine nuts have to be plucked from pinecones, making them a tricky food to source, but they’re also rich in zinc – a mineral synonymous with a healthy sex drive and successful procreation – and were a popular addition to love potions in days past.

The ancient Egyptians and Romans believed this spicy green to be a stimulant. The more prosaic truth is that while it’s good for you it’s more likely to promote a sense of wellbeing – which is more likely to lead to love.

One of China’s favourite aphrodisiacs (it's nicknamed the ginseng of the sea), echinoderms – which are living creatures, not vegetables – are rich in sperm-boosting zinc and magnesium.

Spanish fly is dried beetle juice which, when drunk, encourages blood flow resulting in arousal. It’s thought to be very effective. However, it’s banned in many countries because it’s a toxin that can cause irritation when touched, and itching and inflammation. Oh, and too much can be fatal.

The beauty of vanilla lies in its seductive aroma, which has a relaxing effect. Dr Hirsch, of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, also found that mature men were aroused by this simple, timeless smell.

Like tomatoes, watermelon contains lycopene, which benefits men’s prostates and sperm function. It also relaxes blood vessels, which can help with erectile dysfunction. The fruit also provides us with citruline which, when converted by the body into arginine, benefits the circulatory system.

It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s probably illegal in most countries, but Mongolians and Filipinos are enthusiastic about the stimulating effects of eating wolf meat, especially in colder months.