Also called the nectar of Aphrodite, honey is one of the most seductive foods in the world, not to mention one of the world’s best-known aphrodisiac foods. Sticky, viscous, and deliciously sweet, it is as much a sensual experience as it is a delicious indulgence. So if you’re wondering is honey aphrodisiac? The answer should be clear.
What makes honey an aphrodisiac?
Even in manufacturing, honey’s lore is pure romance. Created by honeybees, it is a product of the nectar of flowers. And for this reason, it is considered an emblem of sexual ripeness. However, honey experts will tell you that the best thing about this liquid gold is the number of varieties.
What do I mean? Not all honey looks or tastes like the stuff in the bear-shaped bottle. In fact, experts say that there are as many variations of honey as there are styles of wine. (Here’s an interactive map with honeys by type.)
In flavor and body, kinds of honey run from bold and thick as molasses to soft and creamy as butter. Some jars of honey are as rich as maple syrup and perfect for pancakes. While others are as aromatic as a bouquet of spring wildflowers.
Aphrodisiac history
And there are almost as many legends about honey’s aphrodisiac powers as there are varieties of this sweet syrup. It was historically considered a potent aphrodisiac by cultures around the world and is still treasured by many.
It is traditionally offered at Indian weddings to symbolize the sweetness of life. In addition, the word honeymoon stems from a wish for a sweet marriage. Furthermore, this viscous liquid gold was once used by many cultures as a symbol of fertility.
And it often symbolized more than fertility. In some cultures, it was straight-up linked with sex. To the ancient Greeks, was honey an aphrodisiac? As a matter of fact, Hippocrates, the famed Greek physician, prescribed it for sexual vigor. He was also fond of recommending a drink of milk and aphrodisiac honey to induce sexual ecstasy.
And although Hippocrates couldn’t have known it, modern medicine reveals that honey benefits for men are potentially greater than the aphrodisiac benefits for women.
Sexual benefits
Honey can help get you in the mood for love by providing the body with a quick shot of natural sugar. It primarily offers fructose but also contains sucrose and glucose. And that can give you a nice little bump of energy at a key moment for making a move in the bedroom.
But beyond its ability to provide fast energy, honey contains some interesting nutrients. According to the USDA’s FoodData Central, honey is a source of potassium, a nutrient considered essential to sexual health. Honey is also a source of iron, zinc and folate, all of which contribute to a healthy sex life. (Incidentally, did you know that honey is about 17% water?)
Does honey make you horny?
Honey has a reputation for increasing sexual desire. And although most people don’t realize it, this is probably because a serving contains about two percent of the vitamins and minerals essential to sexual health. That may not sound like much but much of honey’s nutrition includes some vitamins and minerals key to libido.
One of those key components is boron, a nutrient believed to regulate hormones. Some nutritional authorities believe that boron may be able to treat erectile dysfunction. In fact, one research in 2015 showed that just a week of boron supplementation can result in increasing free testosterone levels by 25%. And it appeared to reduce indicators of inflammation by half. (Inflammation is the enemy of libido and can prevent both men and women from achieving sexual arousal and climax.)
Just because some experts link increased boron consumption with treating erectile dysfunction, don’t think that boron is only for men. Scientific evidence links boron to regulating sexual hormone levels in both men and women.
But keep in mind that honey is not among the best sources of boron. It offers about .5 mg per 100 grams of liquid sweetener. If you’re looking to increase your boron intake for a potential libido boost, better sources might be things like raisins, almonds or peanut butter. Believe it or not, even red wine is considered a source of boron, offering more than one and a half times the boron in honey.
If you’re concerned about your boron intake, please consult your physician before making any substantial dietary changes.
TO TRY: Aphrodisiac yogurt parfait with quinoa and honey
A honey benefit for men
Although boron is a nutrient found in honey that can add to honey’s aphrodisiac appeal for both men and women, there is a benefit of honey specifically for men. As I alluded to earlier, for those like the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who believe honey is linked to sexual vigor, it just so happens that honey increases nitric oxide.
Why is this significant for men?
It won’t necessarily increase sex drive, but nitric oxide is released in the bloodstream during arousal. This means that, potentially, honey has a benefit to men who suffer from erectile dysfunction. (However, as with boron, honey is not among the foods most highly regarded for boosting nitric oxide.) But maybe just the suggestion that it could be working to improve blood flow is enough to make honey a food of sexual fantasies.
Heart benefits that equal sexual benefits
The antioxidants in honey show some promise in reducing blood pressure. In addition, there are some indications that honey may help improve cholesterol levels. And don’t forget that whatever is good for blood flow will not only benefit your heart health but also your sexual performance.
Some surprising honey benefits to general health
If we look critically at the nutritional benefits of honey to sexual health, it’s clear that honey alone will never improve your sex drive. Yes, it contains many nutrients that support blood flow and sexual hormones. But you’re getting a trace of most nutrients in a serving of honey.
Yes, it’s a great choice of sweetener because it’s a natural sugar and it does provide some of the nutrition your body needs for sexual health. Additionally, it’s a sexy syrup with an alluring golden glow and some great aphrodisiac history. But we can’t kid ourselves that the nutrients in honey will turn anyone into a ravishing sex god or goddess.
That being said, there are some remarkable, evidence-based benefits of honey that help promote overall health.
A link with weight loss
There is some evidence that honey may be the best choice of sweetener for those trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight. According to one 2011 study, replacing sucrose with honey may prevent weight gain. There is also a belief that a mixture of honey and lemon water may promote weight loss. This ayurvedic treatment has many supporters. However, the claim that it will actually promote weight loss is not backed by science.
Cough suppressant
Honey appears to be an effective all-natural treatment for coughs and dry or sore throats. Natural and inexpensive, not to mention tasty, licking a spoonful of honey is without question a great alternative to an over-the-counter cough suppressant. It’s a remedy I use frequently to treat an allergy-related cough. (Try it either as a straight spoonful or serve it in a hot toddy cocktail for the added soothing benefits of both steam and alcohol.)
Skincare
Honey is believed to have curative properties for the skin and has been used as a treatment for such skin conditions as dandruff and psoriasis. It’s also found in many cosmetic and skincare products. Because it has antimicrobial properties, honey is also used in wound care. There is some evidence that it can be used topically to treat burns and conclusive evidence that it does help heal infected wounds.
Can it make you more kissable?
Lastly, because of its natural moisturizing effects, honey can be used as a natural lip moisturizer in winter to protect your lips and keep you kissable. I can attest to the fact that sweet viscous honey will keep your lips moisturized while making your pout irresistible to your partner.
Side effects
The most obvious side effect of honey is that it can affect blood sugar levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, anyone with a pollen allergy should be careful around honey. Reactions can include wheezing, nausea, vomiting, fainting and irregular heart rhythms. Also, please keep in mind that honey should never be given to children under the age of one year.
What kind of honey is best?
There are a lot of choices when it comes to buying honey. If you want to reap the most health benefits from eating honey, you probably want to choose raw honey. Or you might consider Manuka honey.
Organic and raw honey
Raw organic honey benefits are basically the same as any raw honey not certified organic. However purchasing organic honey helps to ensure you’re not getting pesticides along with your shot of sweet, golden bliss. Now raw honey benefits versus pasteurized honey, that’s a different story.
Pasteurization appears to reduce some of the most popular health benefits of honey including honey’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Heating honey also diminishes or destroys some of this sweetener’s amino acids and enzymes. However, it is unclear exactly to what degree pasteurization alters honey.
Manuka honey
Many of those who believe in honey for health prefer Manuka honey. From an aphrodisiac standpoint, all honey offers seductive benefits. But if you’re eating honey for health, you may be interested in the benefits of Manuka honey.
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This honey is made by bees who pollinate the flowers of the Manuka bush, native to New Zealand. In addition to offering all the benefits of raw honey, Manuka honey promotes oral health by inhibiting the growth of oral bacteria. (And if you’re thinking about aphrodisiac honey, who doesn’t love a product that gives you a clean and healthy mouth?)
RELATED: Did you know that cheese can improve oral health?
All in all, the benefits of aphrodisiac honey make it one of the best choices of natural aphrodisiacs. Whether you want to splurge for the added benefits of Manuka honey is up to you but keeping honey in your pantry is a must for anyone looking for a natural ingredient with health benefits.
How to incorporate it into your diet
You don’t need to do much with honey to make it seem sexy. Sticky, golden and sweet, honey just naturally is sexy. But if you want to cook with honey, there are many ways to use this natural sweetener in aphrodisiac recipes. One of my favorites is the hot honey nuts recipe from my first cookbook, Fork Me, Spoon Me.
But we also have several aphrodisiac recipes with honey here on Eat Something Sexy for you to enjoy:
The Floral Buzz Elderflower and Honey Cocktail
Tequila Hot Toddy
Fig and Basil Lassi
Massaged Kale Salad with Cranberries and Persimmons
Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiac foods
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It should not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here are not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional. More information
This article was written in 2010 and most recently updated in March 2023.
Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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I love honey , I use honey in everything, even in the shower