Aphrodisiacs of the Caribbean

    Having traveled a bit in the Caribbean, and being an herbalist, I am naturally interested in the aphrodisiacs from the islands. I'll start with a list and brief description of those I know or have heard about, and will eventually add a page for each.


    Caribbean ethnobotany, like everything else Caribbean, is a complex amalgam of many influences. Carib Indian, African, and European knowledge is combined in an area with some unusual plants.


  • Mamajuana, a complex herbal liquer that contains a variety of interesting herbs.
  • Conch - like Oysters, the conch is well regarded as an aphrodisiac through out the Caribbean.
  • Irish Moss - not necessarily from Ireland, it is a seaweed (or 'ocean vegetable' if you prefer).
  • Bois Bande - bark of tree found in the Windward Isles (Grenada, St. Lucia, other places). Like Viagra, Bois Bande has been associated with occasional cases of priapsim - an extreme and painful erection.
  • Stiff Cock - a shrubby plant with hard, waxy leaves. Commonly used in the Bahamas.
  • Love Vine or Dodder - a parasitic vine in the genus Cuscata ... a strange yellow or orange creeper that farmers and foresters hate. Common in the Bahamas, also known in China.
  • Big-Man and 21 Gun Salute. Big Man is a commercial beverage with several herbs. 21 Gun Salute is a traditional tea formula. Bahamas.
  • Ginger is popular in most of the Caribbean, many northerners associate it with Jamaica.
  • Ginger Beer is very easy to make - here's a video.
  • Sarsaparilla (Smilax) is still used in soft drinks. It contains steroidal saponins that can improve libido and act as an aphrodisiac. Also called sasparilla or sarsparilla.
  • Young Coconut Water is not only nourishing - it is a rich source of plant hormones and there is some evidence that it increases the activity of steroids like testosterone.