Historical Aphrodisiacs: A Playful Exploration

Forget oysters, have you tried eating sparrows with a side of phallic vegetables to stir your lust?!

Getting in the mood isn’t just a modern preoccupation, but the reasons behind it have definitely changed throughout the centuries. 

What aphrodisiacs were people using in the Early Modern period? Who were the authorities on this? And how was witch craft involved?!

Joining Kate today is author and historian Dr. Jennifer Evans to help us find out. 

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.