Valentine's Day is not only flowers, gifts and chocolates, but also real meals. From pistachios to 'Nduja, from chili peppers to wild fennel, from truffles to saffron, from pine nuts to honey: these are just some of the superfoods, i.e. special foods that could be interesting or pertinent due to their taste and nutritional qualities to be used for a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day. The list is drawn up by Coldiretti, to make the traditional appointment that affects millions of Italians more "spicy", so to speak: almost four out of ten (37%) have chosen to give flowers, while chocolates or other sweets (30%), clothes, clothing or accessories (25%) and jewelery or other valuables (8%).
There are therefore many products from the countryside that from north to south of the country they are considered as natural elixirs of love, to which tradition has attributed extraordinary stimulating powers, in some cases even confirmed by scientific evidence. It is therefore not necessary to resort to risky exotic spices who come from abroad to a country like Italy, already rich in natural alternatives tested over the centuries, from generation to generation. The trend also for Valentine's Day, as now for many anniversaries, is for one search for naturalness, for genuine and sincere flavours, with foods to which aphrodisiac properties are attributed and which contribute to making an appointment that cannot be renounced for many couples more tantalizing.
Il Bronte pistachio for example it is considered a food of love due to the abundant presence of antioxidants and the high content of arginine, an amino acid which helps preserve the flexibility of the arteries and improve blood flow. For the bravest there is garlic which Galen – Coldiretti still remembers – defined the bulb “exciting for Venus” with properties that the ancient Romans also attributed to shallots, while the red onion, if cut in half, gives off a typical and strongly aromatic scent that captures the senses.
But on the tables of passion can not miss the pepper, which has always been considered a powerful aphrodisiac due to the vasodilatory effect on the peripheral circulation and also the 'nduja thanks to the skilful mix of exquisite pork and the considerable content of chilli pepper, while from a symbolic point of view the eel has been considered an aphrodisiac since from antiquity for its resemblance to the tempting serpent.
A love elixir that also promotes digestion is saffron, produced from the dried stigmas of "crocus sativus" flowers while pine nuts which in popular belief are fertility propitiators have a significant zinc content, a mineral useful for testosterone levels while wild fennel has a balancing effect on female hormone levels. To have Cupid as an ally you can also try with jujube broth, hence the well-known expression to indicate a state of ecstasy and still very useful are honey and truffles whose properties have been handed down over time and transfused into traditional dishes and recipes.
Those who think instead of focusing on exotic products and spices must be careful because many of those considered "superfoods" often come from Asian countries that have very low levels of food safety and numerous alerts from the EU rapid alert system (RASFF) for microbial contamination, aflatoxin or pesticide content beyond the limits.
