Montezuma consumed copious amounts of hot chocolate, the better to serve his harem of 600. Casanova employed it in his seductions. Countless others followed suit, until chocolate became an obvious, if ever-welcome, token of affection. As for its aphrodisiac status, chocolate contains several chemicals — including phenylethylamine, theobromine, and tryptophan — that exert powerful effects on the pleasure centers of the brain.
Aphrodisiac Chocolate Recipes: