Is Cacao Aphrodisiac? Discover Cacao Sex Benefits

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Any chocolate lover can probably tell you that cacao is the most important ingredient in any chocolate confection. But not only does cacao hold the key to chocolate’s rich and seductive flavor but it also holds the key to chocolate’s health benefits, including sex benefits. Discover what makes cacao aphrodisiac and how to use it in your own romantic meals.

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What is cacao and where does it come from?

The ingredient we call cacao comes from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, native to tropical regions of Central and South America. The cacao tree thrives in the hot, rainy climates found within about 20 degrees of latitude from the equator and is currently grown around the world anywhere the climate conditions are right.

The cultivation of cacao dates back thousands of years. It was long believed that the Olemic people of Central America and Mexico were the first to cultivate cacao. But according to National Geographic, archeological findings indicate cacao tree cultivation in Ecuador preceding cacao’s rising popularity among the cultures of Central America.

Cacao pods, which grow directly from the trunk and branches of the cacao tree, contain seeds surrounded by a sweet-tasting pulp. (This photo of a cacao tree growing in Belize illustrates how these pods grow.) When we speak about the ingredient cacao, it usually refers to these seeds, which are sometimes called cacao beans or cocoa beans. However, the pulp is also edible and can be pressed to make a tasty, fruity juice.

Why is cacao an aphrodisiac?

Cacao is considered one of the most powerfully nutritious superfoods on the planet. Once you start to examine the nutritional makeup of cacao, it’s easy to see why dark chocolate, one of the most popular products made from cacao, is touted its health benefits. Benefits which include boosting sexual performance.

But for many, the allure of cacao doesn’t start with nutrition. Cacao’s reputation as an aphrodisiac is locked in its lore. The history of cacao as an aphrodisiac traces back to the ancient Mayans. Cacao seeds were so valuable to the Mayans that they used them as a form of currency to buy goods and services, including the services of prostitutes.

But it was the Aztecs who elevated chocolate to an edible preamble to sexual pleasure. According to Erotic Cuisine, the Aztecs considered the frothy drink they made from cacao seeds to be highly aphrodisiac. It is well known that the Aztec ruler Montezuma, was served many goblets – some historians say as many as 50 cups daily – of a cacao-infused beverage to stay at his most virile.

By the seventeenth century, Europeans had adopted chocolate as a food of love. According to Temptations: Igniting the Pleasure and Power of Aphrodisiacs, in the 1600s chocolate was associated so strongly with love that it was believed to be the cure for a broken heart.

The history of cacao may make it seem sexy in the mind but there’s science to support the fact that this nutritious ingredient is an aphrodisiac for both men and women.

Sex benefits

Cacao is a superfood with some fantastic benefits to your sex life. For starters, cacao is linked with relaxation. According to the Natural Therapy Pages, enjoying cacao causes a drop in blood pressure. It is also thought that the magnesium content of cacao can ease muscle tension. Now this won’t directly increase sexual pleasure but relaxation can go a long way toward keeping your attention in the moment and on the pleasure of sexual acts.

Another way cacao can indirectly boost your sex life is by promoting your creativity. There is research to support the notion that cacao can increase brain function. While a high-functioning mind is not a requirement of sex, it can help you find ways to please your lover and promote pleasure as a couple.

These are fantastic benefits of cacao but when it comes to how cacao can give your sex drive and performance a boost, the key is in the cacao’s theobromine.

The benefits of theobromine

Theobroma cacao is the name given to the seed of cacao trees. And the main active alkaloid found within these seeds is theobromine, which is thought to be nutritionally powerful. It’s found in tea leaves as well as other plants but it’s found in the highest concentration in cacao. Considered to have a number of healing properties including reducing inflammation, enhancing immunity and supporting heart health. But it is best known for its powerful effects on energy.

Theobromine is considered a stimulant. Its effect is caffeine-like. It causes stimulation in the heart and nervous system that’s similar to caffeine. (This is the reason dogs shouldn’t have chocolate. The stimulating effects can cause a serious health risk to their systems.)

Cacao does also contain caffeine but in lower amounts than you will find in caffeinated beverages. In fact, there is some speculation that the caffeine-like effects of chocolate may come strictly from its theobromine and phenylethylamine, also called PEA, a natural amphetamine linked with romance. Itis the combination of these two ingredients that many experts say produces an aphrodisiac effect. Theobromine stimulates the nervous and cardiac systems and phenylethylamine acts as an antidepressant.

Cacao benefits for male sexual health

We know that the combination of theobromine and PEA has the potential to support the sex lives of both men and women. There are some evidence-based reasons cacao might be particularly beneficial to men. The flavonoids in cacao are thought to improve nitric oxide levels in the blood. This is key to men because we know that nitric oxide is needed for a man’s sexual performance.

In addition, cacao and the dark chocolate made from this nutritious pod are both a source of zinc, a mineral linked with improved sperm quality. (A 3.5-ounce bar of dark chocolate contains about 30% of the DV for zinc. That’s a lot of zinc for a sweet treat.)

The flavanols in cacao are also known for their anti-inflammatory benefits. And since low-grade inflammation is linked with erectile dysfunction, cacao may just be the superfood many men are looking for.

Cacao vs cocoa

You may have heard people refer to cacao seeds as cocoa beans and wondered if they’re the same thing. They are. And they’re not not beans either. They are the seed of a fruit. And you may have also seen both cocoa powder and cacao powder for sale and wondered what the difference is.

There is a big difference between cocoa and cacao powder, although both offer powerful cocoa flavor. Cacao powder is raw and unprocessed powder made from cacao seeds. Cocoa is made from roasted, processed cacao. Of course, cocoa can also refer to the hot drink made from cocoa powder, sugar and milk which is delicious although not particularly nutritious.

Cacao and cacao product uses and recipes

Cacao can be used in many ways to access its nutrition. There are a number of cacao products available to choose from. Here are a few ideas to inspire you to experience them all:

Powdered

Add it to recipes as you would cocoa. Just keep in mind that cacao powder has a more intense and bitter flavor than cocoa but incredible nutrition. You can always use half cocoa and half cacao to lessen the intensity. If you love the richness of dark chocolate, try sprinkling cacao powder on your ice cream or adding it to your smoothie. (This is one of my favorite cacao powder brands.)

Nibs

These crumbled bits of dried cacao pods make a delicious snack or topping for baked goods or even savory foods. They are broken up bits of roasted cacao seeds so they have less bitterness of raw cacao but none of the sweetness of chocolate.

Like with raw cacao, the nutrition in cocoa nibs promotes heart and sexual health. They can be used for baking, as a topping for brownies or chocolate peanut butter cookies. They’re also used as a crunchy topping for soups and salads. Try them in my favorite watermelon gazpacho recipe. You can also pour yourself a bowl and just start snacking.

Cacao water

A plant-based drink made by pressing the fruit of the cacao pod, cacao water, also called cacao juice, is considered a nutritious drink. It has a surprisingly fruity flavor and offers many of the same antioxidant benefits as you’ll find in cacao seeds. In addition, it’s considered a hydrating drink thanks to its potassium and magnesium content.

Dark chocolate

Processing cacao to make chocolate requires the addition of ingredients like sugar. Unfortunately, diluting the cacao with things like sugar and dairy dilutes its potency.

That being said, dark chocolate contains a higher amount of theobromine and polyphenols than milk chocolate. So when choosing chocolate, the rule is the darker the better.

Try making these Hand-Rolled Dark Chocolat e Truffles for a truly indulgent dark chocolate fix. It’s a four-ingredient recipe and it’s packed with all the nutrients your body is craving.

More dark chocolate recipes:

Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownies

Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Fiori di Sicilia

Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Almond Seduction Cookies

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It is important to consult your physician before making dietary changes. More information

This article was written in 2015 and most recently updated in February 2024.

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Delahna Flagg

Delahna Flagg is a nutrition expert with a PhD in Holistic Health from Saybrook University as well as a classically trained chef and graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts. She is best recognized as the chef and co-star of Pamela Anderson's The Sensual Vegan web series. Her work on the series helped her develop into an authority on vegan recipe development and the nutritional needs of a vegan lifestyle. Delahna also has experience as a line cook and restaurant sous chef and she is the owner of a special events catering company, My World on a Plate, specializing in delicious, nutritious foods. As a nutritional consultant, she is a Center for Mind-Body Medicine practitioner. She also works as a nutritional value recipe development consultant. Delahna is the co-author of Amazon bestselling dessert cookbook Eat Cake Naked and has served as our Director of Nutrition for over ten years.