VALENTINE’S Day may be over but Nigel Bloxham of the Crab House Cafe in Weymouth says oysters are the perfect food of love any time of the year.

The Weymouth restaurant serves oysters harvested from its nearby oyster farm.

He said the delicacies are for everyone - old and young.

“That leads them to the wonderful feeling and the romance of aphrodisiacs such as chocolate, strawberries, champagne, chilli, asparagus and oysters.

“The Romans of Dorset past loved the local oysters so much that they exported them back to Rome, maybe to fuel their need of an aphrodisiac for romance, love, libidos and for their pungent for orgies. Oysters have enjoyed the reputation and association with seduction in England France and many other parts of the world ever since.”

He said while researching oysters he found some interesting facts.

“Casanova the famed lover ate 60 a day, although I did find in other publications a claim to different amounts, so it becomes folklore and legend.

“When nine oysters are ordered rather than the usual ½ dozen or dozen in the restaurant we call it a Queen Mary due to the fact that she ate nine every day so she must have been a very passionate lady.”

Nigel said there are two main reasons for the oyster to be an aid to the libido. He said: “Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food.

“Zinc is a key mineral for sexual health of men as severe deficiency of zinc can lead to impotence.

“In research of the constriction of blood vessels suffered by diabetics causing impotency, reports were made of potency being restored - a phenomenon which leads to the statement that oysters are nature’s Viagra.”

Nigel said the true aphrodisiac capabilities of an oyster is the dolptham content – a vital neurotransmitter which helps to govern brain activity and information and in turn sexual desire.

“Dopamine promotes sexual interest and triggers response in both male and females also said to amplify intensity of sensation but the most powerful of all is the power of suggestion much like the excitement and sensuality of juicy peaches, chocolate, chilli, spices, champagne, asparagus and other foods with desire and sensual boosting reputations.

“How often you see these foods teasing us even more when they are paired together ‘peaches and champagne’ to make a Bellini or strawberries dipped in chocolate then fed to one another,” he said.

There are many nutritional benefits to oysters, Nigel said.

“One dozen of them is only 75 calories so replace a main meal of the day with them and the results should be stunning for your figure as well.

“They are an excellent source of vitamin A, B1, B3 and C and also your daily intake of iron copper iodine magnesium calcium zinc manganese and phosphorus.

“Save the shells, crush them and put them on the garden as a PH regulator.”

Other common classic aphrodisiacs are ginger, honey, artichokes, figs, pine nuts, black eyed beans and all seafood.

Nigel said: “I don't think we really need scientific proof of certain foods to be an aphrodisiac as the occasion has got to be a big factor having food lovingly prepared just for you or chocolates packed seductively in a heart shaped box.

“With strawberries it is the racy red colour and the fact they have a convenient green leaf stalk with which to hold them by dipping them into chocolate then popping them into your mouth.

“Honey is another in history documented in the karma sutra, the perfumed garden and the bible connecting it with love, sex and sensuality.

“Ginger allows the blood to flow easily, bringing oxygen rich blood to parts of the body and we all know what that means!”

Nigel says black beans are known as an aphrodisiac because once they are cooked they become plump - believed to be a symbol of a woman with child.

Avocados are aphrodisiacs because the Aztec culture deemed them a powerful symbol of testosterone and named it ahvacth or testicle - so powerful their belief that they forbade the village maidens to set even one virginal toe outside the hut while the fruit was being gathered.

Nigel Bloxham’s Favourite Oyster Recipe for Lovers

It’s easy for you if you like your oysters natural because all they need is a little hot chilli sauce to put on them like Tabasco.

Also try a little fresh minced chilli and a squeeze of lime and a shot of tequila.

I also love hot spicy sausage like chorizo.

Serve it hot then eat so the heat from the cooking and the chilli of the sausage burns, then tip a raw oyster into your mouth to cool it for a real evocative sensation.