Words by Georgia Cameron
Art by Rebekah Rose

*WARNING: things may get a little… messy*

Food and sex are two of our more primal indulges. But how have people throughout history tied these two together? Katy Perry managed to couple them up by attaching whipped cream to her tits and Disney did it with two dogs and a piece of spaghetti. Even before music videos and films, food and fucking has had a long history together. The ancient Romans were all about the effect oysters had on the libido and the Greek’s weren’t afraid to use olive oil beyond the kitchen. Nowadays, food is used for arousal in what we know as ‘food play’.

Aphrodisiacs are an obvious place to start. Chocolate, oysters and red wine are some of the sexiest foods around and often seen as a romantic gesture charged with sexuality. The ancient Romans ate oysters by the thousands and Casanova, the world’s most famous lover, started every morning with 50 half-shell oysters. Today, oysters are seen as a luxury which are enjoyed as part of a lavish lifestyle that leaves people moister than the oyster.

Chocolate is also one of the oldest believed aphrodisiacs. Chocolate dominates Valentine’s Day, a treat laced with romance and sex. First used by the Aztecs, Emperor Montezuma was rumoured to drink cups of the sweet stuff before sexual endeavours. To make life easier, there are now plenty of chocolate spreads made specifically for licking off bodies. Scientists aren’t fully on board, saying that there is currently no evidence that food causes any hormonal reaction in the body. Whatever science says, I think we can all agree that chocolate strawberries are sexy.

Beyond seduction, food can be incorporated into the act of sex. Food play, also referred to as sitophilia, is a form of sexual fetishism where people are aroused by sexual acts involving food. It’s more common than you’d think. Phallic foods such as fruits, vegetables or sausages can all be used as dildos. Phallic shapes taking the place of penises is nothing new; we were all there in sex ed when a sweaty P.E. teacher wrapped a condom onto a banana. We see ourselves in the food we eat and use it for pleasure beyond what we can taste.

Lube, or lubricant, also has ties to food play. It all began with the ancient Greeks using olive oil as the first lubrication. While olive oil is still used, the world of lube has become a lot more exciting. Nowadays there are an array of food flavoured lubricants – strawberry, peppermint, wild cherry or banana lube. So you really can taste the rainbow. This idea of eatable things being spread across the body doesn’t just apply to lubes – honey, whipped cream and mousse are some of the things people spread across the bodies of their sexual partners. This is probably the messiest yet most delicious form of food-play.

If you’re new to the world of food and fucking there are fun ways to dip your toe in the waters. Try the Japanese practice of serving sushi of the body of a naked person, Nyotaimori. Turn take away night into a sexual sensation – just stay away from wasabi (thank me later). Do it Cleopatra-style and feed your partner a bunch of grapes, they’ll feel worshiped. Frozen grapes can also be run over nipples or other erogenous zones. The list of options are endless, food is sexy.

There are various ways we use food in the world of sex, to heighten libido, seduce lovers or pleasure ourselves.

Our mothers told us to never play with our food, but I say break the rules, it’s far more fun that way.